Restoring Dignity in Rihaniye: From Survival to Hope

Listening to Act

When Première Urgence Internationale first visited, families spoke of their urgent needs: safety, privacy, dignity. With support from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), we launched a project to transform the site and restore humanity. 

“Life seemed dangerous, uncertain and undignified,” said one resident. “We were surviving, but we were beginning to lose hope.”

What changes have restored dignity and security to families? 

The site’s transformation began with the removal of hazardous asbestos roofing, replaced by safe materials to protect families. Broken doors and windows were repaired, creating a shield against harsh weather and unwanted intrusions. To ease parents’ constant fear, a steel barrier was installed to secure the rooftop where children once played dangerously close to the edge. The open kitchen, which had forced women to cook under the gaze of strangers, was enclosed to restore privacy and dignity. Finally, solar-powered lights brought brightness to the compound after sunset. Where darkness once ruled, light now offers safety—allowing mothers to guide their children to the bathroom without fear and neighbors to gather and share conversations under a reassuring glow. 

^{The open kitchen prior to Première Urgence Internationale’s intervention}

“Before, I was too scared to leave the bedroom at night,” explains one mother. “Now, thanks to the lights, I can take my children to the toilet without fear.”  

These changes gave families more than shelter: they restored dignity and hope. 

More Than Shelter 

^{The communal hall transformed with partitions, restoring privacy and dignity for multiple families.}

Today, children laugh and play again. Parents feel safe. In Rihaniye, life is returning. Families are not just surviving—they are living.

“My children are laughing and playing now,’ said one father. ‘I feel like we are living again, and no longer just surviving.”