97,000 – 122,000 residents

Bar Elias is located in the Zahle district, Beqaa governorate of Lebanon, 50 Km from Beirut. It covers 35 square kilometres, and has between 97,000 – 122,000 residents. Bar Elias municipality has welcomed displaced Syrians since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, given the town’s proximity to the Syrian border, existing social and familial networks, and the Sunni religious affiliation. The population is made up of 60,000 to 70,000 Lebanese; 30,000 to 45,000 Syrian refugees; and 7,000 Palestinian refugees. Bar Elias is considered among the 251 most vulnerable localities in Lebanon; it is also considered to be under ‘high pressure’ due to the high ratio of refugees to hosts which has resulted in a lack of social services, unemployment, insecurity in public spaces, poor housing conditions, lack of recreational, cultural and social activities, and pollution.