In 2021, UNHCR managed to reach some 3,500 refugee and asylum seeker households (6,700 individuals) with regular and emergency cash assistance. A weighted ranking score methodology was used for selection of eligible people of concern for regular cash assistance (up to three instalments) while protection needs assessments were conducted to determine eligibility for emergency cash assistance (up to two instalments).
The primary delivery mechanism was a hybrid approach distribution of cash handouts combined with gift cards to ensure continuity of interventions. The hybrid delivery mechanism enabled people of concern to pay for their rent using cash handouts and cover the rest of basic needs through gift cards. The cases with high level of vulnerabilities, including people of concern released from detention (women and children), medical cases, and women at advanced stages of pregnancy were provided with the full entitlement in the form of physical cash.
Nearly 500 people of concern received an additional (third) instalment of emergency cash assistance (ECA) following the raids and mass arrests in Tripoli by Government in October 2021.
Post-distribution monitoring surveys (PDM) were conducted after the first and third instalments, using random sampling methodology. The findings of the PDM confirmed that cash assistance led to various positive outcomes for respondents. The cash assistance was reported to “significantly” improve beneficiaries’ psychosocial wellbeing, primarily reducing feelings of stress (67% of respondents), improving living conditions (68%), and reducing the financial burden of the household (60%). About 87% of respondents reported an improved ability to their basic needs.
Core relief item kits, consisting of mattresses, blankets, jerrycans, kitchen sets, plastic sheets, solar lamps, heaters, winter clothing, raincoats, baby kits, and hygiene kits, were distributed to 4,400 refugee and asylum seeker households in detention centres, disembarkation points and urban settings.
An additional 18,500 hygiene kits were distributed to refugees and asylum seekers as part of the COVID-19 response. In 2021, 15,300 refugees and asylum seekers received hygiene kits in urban areas through the blanket distribution of kits in the CDC.
UNHCR distributed these items to refugees who were rendered homeless following the security raids in October 2021. While the UNHCR-funded CDC became inaccessible for refugees due to large crowds gathering and hindering access, UNHCR and partners (CESVI, IRC and NRC) managed to make necessary arrangements for life-saving services to be delivered from several alternative locations.