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In Lebanon Rooted in Trust is working to address the impacts of pandemic related information with vulnerable communities across the country, with a particular focus on Syrian refugees in the Bekaa and Akkar governorates.

Following the information ecosystem assessment done in Lebanon in 2021 entitled “Peeling the Onion: a multi-layered infodemic and its impact on trust for Syrians in Lebanon,” the Internews Rooted in Trust project focuses primarily on Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon to acknowledge and unpack the unique experiences for Syrians at a time when information is heavily impacted by Lebanon’s various compounding crises. Lebanon’s traditional media landscape was set up in the wake of the country’s decades long civil war and continues to reflect Lebanon’s political status quo today. Media outlets and online platforms seldom cover issues specific to politically marginalized communities such as Syrian Refugees or even Migrant Workers.

We are working alongside:

Maharat Foundation, a women-led Beirut based nonprofit organization, acting as a catalyst, defending and advancing the development of democratic societies governed by the values of freedom of expression, access to information and respect for human rights across all regions in Lebanon. Maharat has also been supporting alternative media platforms and community media platforms at local levels and has been implementing activities related to amplifying voices of people including marginalized communities all over Lebanon, refugees included.

Endless Medical Advantage (EMA), a refugee-led organization providing sustainable healthcare services and humanitarian aid and relief to the refugee populations and vulnerable communities across the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. EMA aims to provide sustainable healthcare solutions to continue supporting vulnerable communities living in remote and isolated areas of the Bekaa valley primarily with a mobile medical service.

Akkarouna, a local non-profit covering the northern Lebanon regions. Its aim is to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth through youth, women and children empowerment by building their capacities, enhancing community networks, implementing development projects and spreading awareness about rights and citizenship under 5 key pillars: Shelter, Protection, Social Stability, Livelihood and Governance.

In order to stay up to date with latest developments in the humanitarian and health response, the Lebanon team participates and contributes to the Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE) meeting, National Health Cluster meeting and National Interagency meeting, where we also share findings and analysis linked to COVID-19 rumor tracking.

Rumor Tracking Trainings (RTTs), are also being organized with different health partners from the RCCE network and local communities. The aim of these trainings is to empower health actors with the tools they need to track COVID-19 rumors and establish a shared online opensource rumor database at the national level where they would be able to track unique rumor trends, fact check them, and adapt their awareness activities to reach the most affected population groups.

For more information, subscribe to the newsletter below or contact Rawan Ajami at [email protected]