Summer 2006 war on Lebanon: A lesson in community resilience

Abstract

The internally displaced persons (IDPs) during the July 2006 war in Lebanon exhibited a high level of community resilience, affirmed by relief agencies and public health professionals. Data from personal observations, interviews, meetings and published material were used to examine factors contributing to this resilience. Findings suggested that community resilience is a process rather than an outcome. The sense of a collective identity, prior experience with wars and social support networks have contributed to building up IDP's resilience over time, while community cohesiveness, adequate public health interventions, social solidarity and a connected political leadership helped to sustain it during and shortly after the war. This paper examines implications for public health professionals and argues for a paradigm shift in disaster relief practice.

Keywords:

• internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• Lebanon
• resilience
• war
• community

Acknowledgements

We thank the colleagues who commented on earlier drafts and presentations of this paper, particularly the Health and Society Group at FHS and Rita Giacaman from Birzeit University.