PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING TO THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT From the INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS Summary Applicant Organisation: International Committee of the Red Cross, 19 Avenue de la Paix, CH-1202 GENEVA Contact person: Nicolas Roggo Head of Unit, External Resources Division, +41 22 730 2181 (direct) nroggo@icrc.org Date of submission: 16 December 2014 Zone of operation: Middle East Country: Lebanon Programme: ICRC activities in Lebanon Duration: 12 months Amount requested: 2'000'000 EUR 1 LEBANON The ICRC has been present in Lebanon since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With the Lebanese Red Cross, it works to protect and assist civilians affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. It facilitates access to water and provides medical care and other relief to refugees who fled the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. It visits detainees; offers family-links services, notably to foreign detainees and refugees; works with those concerned to address the plight of the families of the missing; and promotes IHL compliance across Lebanon. 1. Context Lebanon remains without a formal government, with socio-political tensions exacerbated by the ongoing armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic (hereafter Syria). Its service-oriented economy continues to decline in light of political and regional developments. The presence of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria is stretching Lebanon’s resources, as well as the capacities of organizations assisting them, including UN agencies. 2 Security within Lebanon, endangered by the Syrian conflict, is precarious, with intercommunal clashes occurring in the Bekaa Valley, Saida and Tripoli. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) routinely intervene to restore calm in these areas. Hezbollah has confirmed its forces’ participation in the armed conflict in Syria. Palestinian refugees contend with difficult living conditions and persistent tensions in refugee camps. Hundreds of unresolved cases of people unaccounted for in relation to past conflicts in Lebanon continue to cause deep anguish for the families concerned. 2. Humanitarian Response and ICRC action and results In 2014, the ICRC delegation in Lebanon will support countrywide emergency preparedness and response in relation to the humanitarian consequences of the armed conflict in Syria and other situations of violence. Efforts to encourage the authorities to enhance detainees’ treatment and living conditions and to recognize the needs of families of missing persons will continue. In a subsidiary role in relation to the authorities and UNHCR, the ICRC will help address the most pressing humanitarian needs of refugees fleeing the armed conflict in neighbouring Syria. It will help weapon-wounded Syrians receive timely emergency/surgical care by supporting the Lebanese Red Cross’s EMS in the provision of first aid and the evacuation of patients and by financing the surgical treatment of those critically injured. In poorly served host communities, residents and refugees will have adequate access to clean water following the ICRC-supported rehabilitation/upgrade of key infrastructure. Unassisted Syrian refugees, Palestinian refugees from Syria, and Lebanese returnees will receive food and hygiene items, enabling them to cover their needs for one month. To help boost local emergency preparedness in violence-prone areas, the ICRC will support first-aid training for volunteers and weapon bearers, including Palestinian groups. Through workshops, it will help the Lebanese Red Cross and other EMS providers enhance their capacities to manage mass casualties and will enable surgeons working in key hospitals in the Bekaa Valley and northern Lebanon, as well as military surgeons, to practice war-surgery skills. Medicines and other supplies will be available for distribution to hospitals in case of mass-casualty emergencies. The ICRC will remind the authorities of the protection afforded to people fleeing the Syrian conflict under the principle of non-refoulement and applicable law. The delegation will also share reports of humanitarian and protection concerns from Syrian refugees who have fled into Lebanon to the ICRC delegation in Syria. Following regular visits to detainees, including the individual follow-up of security detainees, the ICRC will encourage the authorities to ensure that all inmates are afforded treatment and living conditions in line with international law and internationally recognized standards. In parallel, it will provide the authorities with expertise and ad hoc assistance in enhancing detainees’ material conditions and access to health services, including for their psychological well-being. Based on a report submitted to the authorities and other stakeholders in 2013, the ICRC will continue to encourage them to recognize/address the needs of families of persons missing from past conflicts. Furthermore, it will continue to collect ante-disappearance data on 3 missing persons and support the Internal Security Forces’ (ISF) forensic laboratory in collecting/storing biological reference samples for DNA testing, in view of a future mechanism to inform families of the fate of their missing relatives. Family-links services will remain available to detainees, refugees and migrants to help them exchange news with relatives in Lebanon or in countries affected by conflict or natural disaster. The National Society will receive support in developing its capacity in this field. To promote humanitarian principles, IHL and the goals of the Health Care in Danger project and to foster acceptance of its activities for conflict/violence-affected people, the ICRC will strengthen its networks with the authorities, weapon bearers, community/religious leaders, NGOs, media representatives and other civil society actors, engaging with them through dedicated seminars/workshops and dissemination sessions. The ICRC will continue to coordinate with Movement partners, UN agencies and other humanitarian actors in fields of common interest, in order to identify unmet needs, maximize impact and avoid duplication. 3. Humanitarian issues and ICRC objectives Civilians Violent incidents often compromise the safety of the population, including medical staff/facilities. Besides Syrian refugees, people fleeing the conflict in Syria include Palestinian refugees and Lebanese returnees. Most arrive with few or no belongings and fear for their safety, having lost family members or their homes in Syria. In the absence of government-established camps, refugees live with host communities all over the country, making it difficult for aid to reach them in a timely manner. Tensions arise between residents and refugees over scarce resources. Lebanese families with relatives who fled to Israel after Israeli forces ended the occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000, as well as migrant workers, refugees and other foreigners, find it difficult to stay in contact with their relatives. Families of thousands of people still unaccounted for in relation to past conflicts in Lebanon have particular needs that are often unmet. Families of Lebanese and foreign nationals killed in past conflicts in the region wish to recover the remains of their relatives. Objective People in Lebanon, including refugees, are protected and respected in conformity with applicable law and can cover their basic needs. Family members exchange news with relatives living, arrested or detained/interned abroad, and are reunited if they so wish. They receive information about missing relatives and, if they are dead, take possession of the remains; their specific needs are met. Plan of action and indicators Protection Through networking and dialogue, remind all weapon bearers of their obligations under applicable law and norms to ensure respect for the population, including patients and medical workers (see Wounded and sick), and of the protection afforded to 4 persons fleeing the conflict in Syria under the principle of non-refoulement; in case of violence, report documented allegations of violations/abuses to the pertinent parties for investigation and follow-up action to prevent their recurrence through interviews with refugees, document humanitarian concerns in Syria to support the ICRC’s humanitarian dialogue with the parties to the Syrian armed conflict Restoring family links through ICRC/National Society tracing and RCM services, enable people in Lebanon, notably refugees, migrants and other foreigners, to re-establish/maintain contact with relatives living, arrested or detained/interned abroad, particularly in countries affected by armed conflict, other situations of violence or natural disaster help the Lebanese Red Cross develop its capacity to provide family-links services through training/coaching and financial support for its newly established family-links department acting as a neutral intermediary, facilitate the repatriation of Lebanese nationals who wish to return home from Israel and of the remains of Lebanese nationals who die in Israel Missing persons to increase the future likelihood of families receiving information on the fate of missing relatives and, if deceased, being able to take possession of their remains: o collect and preserve ante-disappearance data from some 800 families of missing persons o through training, material and logistical support, help the Internal Security Force (ISF) laboratory ensure that biological reference samples, needed from relatives of the missing for future identification efforts, are collected/stored according to internationally recognized standards o encourage the authorities to establish a forensic identification process supported by a national mechanism; help them increase their knowledge of related preparatory steps, such as mapping and identification/protection of mass graves o through training and material support, help the authorities enhance local capacities in identifying and handling/managing human remains on the basis of a comprehensive needs assessment report shared with the authorities and other stakeholders in 2013: o encourage the authorities to take steps to recognize/address the needs of families of missing persons, including through legislation protecting the rights of missing persons and their families o mobilize and support local associations/NGOs in providing psychological and social assistance to the families of missing persons Assistance Economic security help up to 50,000 unassisted refugees (10,000 households) to partially cover their basic needs for one month through the distribution, in coordination with the authorities and other humanitarian actors, of a food parcel and household essentials, including hygiene kits, nappies, blankets, mattresses and tarpaulins Water and habitat help ensure that up to 400,000 residents and refugees have adequate access to clean water by providing technical and material support to local water boards in upgrading/rehabilitating and operating water schemes in communities hosting large refugee populations 5 People deprived of their freedom Most security detainees are held in Interior Ministry-run prisons, as the plan to transfer penitentiary authority to the Justice Ministry remains uncertain. The Defence Ministry also holds detainees. Respect for judicial guarantees and for the principle of non-refoulement of released foreigners, overcrowding and lack of access to health care continue to be issues of concern. Detained migrants and other foreigners, including Syrian refugees, find it difficult to communicate with relatives. Objective Detainees are afforded treatment and living conditions, including respect for judicial guarantees and the principle of non-refoulement, that comply with international law and internationally recognized standards. They are able to restore/maintain contact with relatives. Plan of action and indicators Protection following regular visits, conducted according to standard ICRC procedures, to monitor detainees’ treatment and living conditions, including the individual follow-up of security detainees, share the findings and recommendations with the authorities, encouraging them to: o take measures to ensure that inmates, in particular security detainees under interrogation, are treated in accordance with international law and internationally recognized standards, including respect for judicial guarantees o ensure that foreign detainees, including Syrians, benefit from the principle of nonrefoulement through family-links services, enable security detainees, migrants and other foreigners to contact relatives in Lebanon or abroad; assist foreigners in contacting their embassies refer particularly vulnerable security detainees to specialized organizations offering legal/judicial assistance Assistance support the authorities’ efforts to enhance detainees’ material conditions, by providing them with technical advice, including through round-tables/seminars, on prison construction and measures to address overcrowding, as well as with hygiene items and other essentials for distribution to particularly vulnerable security detainees and detained foreigners to help the authorities ensure that detainees have access to quality health services: o encourage coordination between the penitentiary and health authorities in developing prison health services and promoting respect for medical ethics among health staff, notably through an updated assessment of primary/mental health services available in ISF prisons o provide direct support in the form of technical advice, drugs and cleaning/hygiene items to the health services of Roumieh central, Tripoli and Zahle prisons, sharing ICRC observations and recommendations with the pertinent authorities 6 Wounded and sick Wounded and sick people have access to emergency medical care through the EMS of various organizations, notably that of the Lebanese Red Cross. The country’s hospitals are unprepared to handle mass-casualty emergencies. The arrival of hundreds of wounded Syrians further stretches the capacities of facilities in the Bekaa Valley and northern Lebanon, which lack the resources to treat the evacuees. Syrian-run post-surgical rehabilitation facilities struggle with insufficient stocks of consumables. Palestinian refugees, ineligible to receive treatment under the Lebanese health care system, rely on Palestine Red Crescent Society-run hospitals. In the camps, those wounded as a result of violence often lack access to first aid. Attacks on patients and medical staff and facilities, including ambulances, are reported during clashes in urban areas. Objective Wounded and sick people, including refugees, have timely and unhindered access to adequate medical and surgical services during emergencies arising from armed conflict or other situations of violence. Plan of action and indicators Assistance Medical to promote respect for and protection of patients and medical staff/facilities/vehicles: o document and report allegations of abuses to the authorities and weapon bearers for investigation and action to prevent their recurrence o on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of documented incidents, work on and implement with the Lebanese Red Cross a plan of action to garner support for the goals of the Health Care in Danger project to help weapon-wounded people access timely and appropriate first-level of care during emergencies: o support the Lebanese Red Cross EMS, particularly in providing first aid and evacuating wounded Syrians to referral facilities, through technical and material assistance and funding to cover running costs, ambulance maintenance, the provision of blood bank services, and staff/volunteer recruitment and training, particularly in first aid and the Safer Access approach o organize first-aid training for armed groups, including in Palestinian camps, and, with the Lebanese Red Cross, for volunteers in violence-prone areas o through workshops, help the main EMS providers improve and coordinate the management of mass casualties and human remains enable up to 2,400 wounded/critically injured Syrians to receive surgical care by paying for their treatment in selected hospitals in the Bekaa Valley; monitor and support patients in Syrian-run post-surgical rehabilitation facilities through the provision of drugs and consumables in case of violence, help up to 600 weapon-wounded patients receive treatment by providing medicines and other supplies to EMS providers and hospitals, including those in Palestinian camps help local practitioners enhance their war-surgery skills through the training of orthopaedic surgery students, Lebanese military surgeons, and medical staff of key hospitals in violence-prone areas, and on-site coaching of surgeons in a hospital in northern Lebanon where the ICRC rents 10 beds 7 support the sustainability of the Palestinian Red Crescent-run hospitals by advocating secondary health care referrals to them; be ready to provide advice on the implementation of the Palestinian Red Crescent’s 2013–18 health strategy Actors of influence Local authorities and community/religious leaders exert influence in northern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. The LAF oversees State security and, with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), implements a UN ceasefire resolution along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The military’s national IHL office supports and monitors the integration of IHL into its decision-making processes. The ISF is responsible for most prisons and law enforcement activities, with LAF support. The national IHL committee, established in 2010, has yet to begin its work. The media and NGOs are active in Lebanon and, to some extent, the region. IHL is not yet offered as a separate law course in universities. Objective The authorities and all weapon bearers know and respect IHL and other fundamental rules protecting people in armed conflict and other situations of violence, and incorporate these into their decision-making processes. Community/religious leaders, academic circles, the media, NGOs and other key civil society actors help foster awareness of humanitarian issues and IHL among all those involved in these situations and the wider public, thus achieving greater respect for human dignity. All actors understand the ICRC’s mandate and support the work of the Movement. Plan of action and indicators Prevention to raise awareness of humanitarian principles and gain acceptance and support for neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian action, including the goals of the Health Care in Danger project: o regularly engage community/religious leaders in the Bekaa Valley and northern Lebanon in bilateral meetings/dissemination sessions, to secure their support for the Movement’s response to the humanitarian needs of refugees from Syria o encourage wider and accurate media reporting of humanitarian topics through briefings, a humanitarian reporting award and IHL courses abroad for journalists o pursue dialogue on humanitarian issues with political parties, think-tanks, NGOs and the diplomatic community o help the Lebanese Red Cross promote IHL, while developing communication activities highlighting Movement activities in the region and beyond o encourage health professionals, local and international NGOs, Islamic circles and other key civil society actors to support and promote the goals of the Health Care in Danger project through a workshop and reference materials to promote respect for IHL, other international norms, domestic law and humanitarian principles: o pursue dialogue with the ISF and LAF on law enforcement practices and engage ISF officers in discussion regarding internationally recognized detention standards and ICRC activities for detainees; keep high-ranking military/police officials abreast of ICRC activities in Lebanon and beyond, including through presentations 8 o o o o at military/police training centres; conduct IHL dissemination sessions for newly deployed UNIFIL officers network with armed groups, including during first-aid training sessions, to facilitate discussions on the fundamental rules of IHL protecting people not or no longer participating in the fighting, and other relevant norms and principles support the LAF and its national IHL office in further advancing IHL integration, and help military/police and government officials deepen their understanding of IHL by sponsoring their participation in courses in Lebanon and abroad; be ready to support the national IHL committee encourage the authorities to draft legislation protecting the rights of missing persons and their families and the proper use of the Movement’s emblems stimulate IHL interest in universities through workshops for lecturers/students; encourage their participation in regional IHL courses/events and contribution to related studies/publications Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The Lebanese Red Cross is the ICRC’s main operational partner in Lebanon, focusing on assisting wounded refugees from Syria, responding to emergencies in general, restoring family links and promoting the Movement (see Civilians, Wounded and sick and Actors of influence). Objective The National Society is able to carry out effective activities to assist victims of armed conflict or other situations of violence. The activities of all components of the Movement are coordinated. Plan of action and indicators Cooperation in coordination with Movement partners, help the Lebanese Red Cross develop its organizational and operational capacities, in particular through financial and technical support to: o better manage its EMS vehicle fleet and IT equipment/software, repair some temporary stations and implement its five-year and fundraising strategies o carry out a review of its statutes and send officials on courses/seminars abroad continue engaging in Movement coordination mechanisms, to ensure an efficient response to humanitarian needs in the country 4. Request for funding under the Aide d'urgence budget line The ICRC is hereby submitting a request for funding to the Belgian government under its Aide d'Urgence budget line to allow the delegation in Lebanon to implement activities planned in the framework of its Emergency Appeal for 2014. The financial support from the Belgian government will represent a co-funding contribution to the overall budget of the delegation (see below). The delegation will carry out the 9 programmes it defined on the basis of the assessed needs, in full respect for its integrated approach towards the victims of the conflict situation. The ICRC initially appealed for CHF 23,427,000 for Lebanon; with the budget extension for THE SYRIAN ARMED CONFLICT AND THE WIDER REGION (1 May 2014), the revised appeal amounts to CHF 38,139,000 (USD 43,124,000/EUR 31,277,000) The Table below shows the figures of the Budget – per programme: Lebanon – Emergency Appeal + Budget Extension 2014 – by programme BUDGET IN kCHF Protection Assistance Prevention Cooperation with National Societies General - 5,892,078.89 26,571,484.28 1,687,568.19 3,987,725.06 Total 38,138,856.42 Of which: Overheads 1,430 The total amount hereby requested is 2'000'000 EUR / 2’403’600 CHF1 Nature of costs CHF Operational costs 2'319'474 Administrative costs2 84'126 Total amount requested 2’403'600 Bank account details: Account name: COMITE INTERNATIONAL DE LA CROIX-ROUGE Name and address of the bank: UBS SA P.O. BOX 2600 CH-1211 GENEVA 2 CODE SWIFT: UBSWCHZH12A Account number (EUR): 240-C0129986.5 IBAN CODE (EUR): CH 25 0024 0240 C012 9986.5 1 2 EUR 1’930'000 70'000 2'000'000 Foreign currency rate December 2014: 1 EUR/ 1.2018 CHF Personnel and administrative costs in support to the operations, as per annexed detailed breakdown. 10 Annexes Lebanon - 2014 Budget Operations 1 Staff related costs 2 Mission & Living allowances 3 Assistance to victims 4 Financial assistance 5 Means of Transport 6 Premises costs 7 IT & Telecommunication costs 8 Miscellaneous costs Support 1 Staff related costs 2 Mission & Living allowances 5 Means of Transport 6 Premises costs 7 IT & Telecommunication costs 8 Miscellaneous costs Overhead 9 Overhead Grand Total CHF Amount 30 143 706 10 213 927 234 142 5 587 482 6 863 120 570 503 4 535 856 112 186 2 026 489 5 667 429 3 546 109 61 226 243 770 1 403 152 203 528 209 644 2 327 721 2 327 721 38 138 856 ICRC operations in Lebanon Financial situation as of 18.12.2014 (unaudited figures) In Swiss Francs Amount Initial budgets 23 426 822 Budget Extension Appeals 14 712 035 Revised Budgets 2014 38 138 856 1. Estimated expenditure (November sitfin) 31 263 805 2. Adjusted balance brought forward from 2013 3. Total contribution 4. 1 384 122 25 958 738 Outstanding needs as against the estimated expenditure (4 = 1 - 2 - 3) 11 3 920 944 Lebanon - 2014 revised budget Program 1- Protection Operations 1 190 495 251 177 93 708 1 535 380 LEBNDPLPROPPC0S LEBNGENPROPPC0 LEBNSEPPROMIS0 LEBNSEPPRORFL0 613 669 292 676 1 667 328 360 416 302 051 174 458 564 342 115 857 59 522 30 364 145 058 30 958 975 242 497 498 2 376 728 507 231 4 124 584 1 407 885 359 610 5 892 079 LEBNDFGASSENG0 567 666 110 766 44 098 722 530 LEBNDFGASSGEN0 LEBNDPLASSECO0S LEBNDPLASSENG0S LEBNDPLASSMED0S LEBNWSGASSMED0 444 100 5 395 885 3 985 337 9 013 277 2 363 433 60 866 792 860 519 725 1 507 673 188 163 32 822 402 268 292 829 683 862 165 854 537 788 6 591 014 4 797 891 11 204 812 2 717 450 2- Assistance Total 3- Prevention 1 621 733 26 571 484 21 769 699 3 180 052 LEBNADIPREACT0 359 197 339 498 45 415 744 110 LEBNADIPREACT1 LEBNAIIPREACT0 LEBNAIIPREACT1 110 650 344 643 55 571 77 226 265 187 32 600 12 212 39 639 5 731 200 088 649 468 93 902 870 061 714 511 102 997 1 687 568 LEBNRCGSNSEPR0 248 673 144 372 25 548 418 593 LEBNRCGSNSEPR0S LEBNRCGSNSGEN0 LEBNRCGSNSGEN0S 2 883 916 150 283 96 490 65 598 120 135 34 875 191 718 17 577 8 539 3 141 232 287 996 139 904 3 379 363 364 980 243 382 3 987 725 3- Prevention Total 4- Cooperation Overhead Total Budget LEBNDFGPRODET0 1- Protection Total 2- Assistance Support 4- Cooperation Total Grand Total 30 143 706 12 5 667 429 2 327 721 38 138 856