This report is the final in a series of papers documenting the findings of the Clingendael Conflict Research Unit (CRU) research into the refugee response in Lebanon. This research would not have been possible without generous funding from the Dutch National Postcode Lottery and support from the aid community in the Netherlands and Lebanon. Tina Gewis, Mariska van Beijnum, Fransje Molenaar and Megan Price provided excellent peer reviews; the reflections from Markus Göransson, Nick Grinstead and Willem van den Berg helped shape our thinking; and Robert Wood helped bring the paper to its final format. Cheryl White and Matt Rowland Hill carefully edited the report on tight deadlines. We thank them all for the time and effort they invested in the project.

Prof. Imad Salamey of the Lebanese American University and his team (Basma Chaikh and Layan El Khatib) offered invaluable analytical insights and research support throughout. We are grateful to our Lebanese interlocutors on all sides of the country’s complex political landscape, who have shared with us their analyses, personal views and often also their affection for their troubled country.

The researchers owe a special debt of gratitude to the Syrian refugees we interviewed, who shared their stories of life in displacement with remarkable openness and generosity. We are thankful not just for the insights they helped us acquire, but also for a valuable lesson in retaining human dignity in the face of tremendous challenges.