Seated in her modestly furnished living room, Fatima stares outside her window to a view of the city of Halba in northern Lebanon. From behind the window, she observes the grey and yellow buildings surrounded by mountainous areas that have been a silent witness to her daily life.
Fatima stands up and walks around her house, which she describes as small and humble. Despite the many happy memories the house carries, for the longest time, it was the main cause of Fatima’s discomfort. At this time last year, the same window that now allows her to view her neighborhood, was the source of many sleepless nights.
“I felt as though I was living in a tent instead of a house,” Fatima says as she recalls the state of her house before UNHCR’s renovations.
Exposed to the outside, her windows lacked protective glass and the wooden doors allowed for the cold to creep in. It was even harder to use the toilet, which was outside the house, exposed to the rest of the neighborhood, with no ceiling, no walls, and little hygiene considerations. Fatima and her family were regularly exposed to risks and extreme weather conditions. During winter nights, it was almost impossible for her to have a full night’s sleep.
The economic crisis in Lebanon only made things worse, forcing Fatima into unemployment and with no income apart from the limited support she received from her siblings, mainly helping her cover medical bills for her diabetes and hypertension treatments.
UNHCR and its partner Concern Worldwide stepped in, supporting Fatima and her family with the house renovations. A new bathroom inside the house, refurbished walls and roof, and a newly installed window and aluminum door with a lock have made a big difference in Fatima’s life.
“Now, I finally feel safe in my own home. I can finally have a good night’s sleep,” she says.
Halba is one of the most vulnerable governates in the country, with 21 per cent of the region’s buildings requiring substantial structural repairs and 44 per cent requiring major repairs. Many residents, like Fatima, are unable to afford essential renovation works. By offering protection from the weather elements, ensuring privacy, removing health risks, and enhancing access to water and sanitation facilities, UNHCR’s shelter programme supports the most vulnerable live in improved housing conditions.
The area-based approach takes a multisectoral approach, rehabilitating not only the homes of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrians, but also Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene structures, access to education, protection services, and other basic needs.
“Here, we are all in the same boat: Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians. We are struggling together, and sometimes, we find ways to help each other whether with some kind words, or with a piece of bread. I am happy to see that my neighbors and I are being supported,” Fatima says.
More than 40 families in Fatima’s neighborhood have received housing assistance from UNHCR and its partner Concern Worldwide. UNHCR’s shelter response in Lebanon includes the renovation and improvement of substandard shelters, especially as the rain comes and temperatures drop. Hundreds of other individuals also benefited from the rehabilitation of common areas, increased connections to the main sewage network and rehabilitation of water pipes.
For Fatima, it is the privacy she now enjoys that makes her feel safe. She says she now finally feels at home.
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