Reference :
V-P-LB-E-01425
Date :
02/12/2014
Caption :
Tripoli. Within the context of the ICRC “cash for work project”, men from Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen are cleaning the area and fixing sewage. Youssef is one of them.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
News release on ICRC website, 11.02.2015: “Lebanon: Strengthening the resilience of communities affected by violence. Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city, has been the scene of recurrent outbursts of armed violence between the marginalized communities of the Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighbourhoods. Since November 2014, the ICRC has launched several projects to help both communities to recover from long-standing cycles of poverty and violence and regain their dignity. Many residents of the densely populated districts of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabanneh were trapped in poverty even before the Syrian conflict spilled over into Lebanon, thus further exacerbating tensions in the course of 2014 and January 2015. Many families are struggling to make ends meet. This stress adds to the pain caused by the loss of loved ones through violent clashes and it takes its toll on both their mental and physical wellbeing and their health. As Jamila Hammami, the delegate heading the ICRC team in Tripoli, explains, "The social marginalization in these neighbourhoods is poignant. These people have been exposed to armed violence on their doorstep for decades and there is a great sense of powerlessness, resignation and mistrust. It is our neutrality and impartiality that allows us to work in such a polarized environment today."In a bid to reduce the impact of the armed violence, the ICRC has launched several projects to help the most vulnerable members of both communities to rebuild their lives. Cleaning up the areas through cash-for-work schemes. Recurrent bouts of violence have also deprived residents of Bab al-Tabanneh and Jabal Mohsen of a range of vital public and private services, such as garbage collection. To ensure that the garbage littering the streets is collected and properly disposed of, the ICRC and LRC, in cooperation with the municipal authorities of Tripoli, have so far enrolled 113 men in a cash-for-work scheme. These men are also cleaning streets and repainting walls.Youssef Ahmed Salama, a father of three, is 31 years old and partially disabled after being hit in the leg by a stray bullet. He also has to provide for his mother and sister. "I never had any job security owing to my disability, so it has always been really hard to feed seven mouths. Now I am earning a modest salary, but it is better than earning nothing. It is nice to see our streets and playground looking clean and tidy. We are reclaiming our area and allowing people to live in a more dignified way." […].”
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
2642x3962
Orientation :
portrait
Colour/B&W :
colour
