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Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Corporation

Abstract:
Syrian refugees have become a common feature in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon where the number of those registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reached 1,192,342. The challenges related to dealing with the health and social needs of this vulnerable group have become acute over the last two years.


Refugee health services are provided by the Lebanese government as well as by NGOs. One of the local NGOs in Lebanon, the Karagheusian Medical Center, used an integrated approach to provide services to both their local constituencies and the refugees. A defining element of an integrated approach is an equal ability by refugees and host nationals to access the same healthcare resources from the same providers.

A study of the Karagheusian Medical Center in the Armenian District of Beirut namely the Burj Hammoud borough highlights how a local NGO provides health services to refugees without prejudice while continuing to make this care available to the host population.

Through a field survey of 100 Syrian refugee families (about 600 persons) in Burj Hammoud and their relationship with the Center, this report identifies and discusses the care provided, challenges encountered so far, and needs remaining to be dealt with. This will allow specific and more general lessons to be learned and conclusions to be drawn about the integrated healthcare for refugees and host population.