Welcome To Lebanon

“Welcome, welcome to Lebanon.

“Welcome, welcome to Lebanon......." was a phrase we encountered regularly from soldiers at Lebanese Army checkpoints. It was meant as a friendly gesture, but some soldiers seemed to say the words sardonically, revealing the weariness they feel about the fragility of Lebanon today.

For 10 days in February 2014 I undertook my first trip to Lebanon to look in depth at the refugee crisis in that country. Since my concern photographically in my personal work is largely the issue of migrations and the myriad of consequences thereof, it seemed to me the most natural thing to do. Currently, there are almost 1.5 million Syrian refugees. The country is roughly the same size of Ireland, with a population of 4 million - also like Ireland.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Children playing in an abandoned building inhabited by many Syrian families who fled the Syrian civil war. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian refugee, 47, who is in the final stages of terminal lung cancer. He traveled from Syria 12 months ago and was diagnosed with cancer only 4 months ago. His condition allowed him to be allocated an apartment in a UNHCR building for Syrian refugees, but with no proper medical care available his condition deteriorated rapidly. In obvious pain and extremely weak, he still welcomed us into what is now his home and allowed me to photograph him. With Action Aid, Baalbek, Lebanon February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Syrian refugee children playing football in their UNHCR run settlement. Balbeek, Lebanon February 2014
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Syrian refugee children playing football in their UNHCR run settlement. Balbeek, Lebanon February 2014

© Stephen Boyle - Sleeping area for a Syrian family who live in a rented garage. Jeb Jennine, Baqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014
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Sleeping area for a Syrian family who live in a rented garage. Jeb Jennine, Baqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Sleeping and living area in an abandoned building now inhabited by Syrians fleeing the civil war. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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25 year old Syrian man born with Down's Syndrome. He lives with his brother and other families in an informal settlement within a half finished building unsuitable for human habitation. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian refugee, 47, who is in the final stages of terminal lung cancer. He traveled from Syria 12 months ago and was diagnosed with cancer only 4 months ago. His condition allowed him to be allocated an apartment in a UNHCR building for Syrian refugees, but with no proper medical care available his condition deteriorated rapidly. In obvious pain and extremely weak, he still welcomed us into what is now his home and allowed me to photograph him. With Action Aid, Baalbek, Lebanon February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian children who fled the civil war in neighbouring Syria proudly show off 1000 Lebanese Pounds (approx. $0.67 US). The people living in this building are part of yet another conflict affecting the refugee community. They are considered older refugees by the UNHCR, having been in Lebanon for over a year. With the recent influx of thousands more their accommodation is now more cramped and they complained about receiving reduced aid as a result of the overwhelming numbers of refugees arriving in need of urgent assistance, against the backdrop of a case of demand far exceeding supply. Baalbek, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Children on a balcony of an unfinished building where they live with many Syrian families who fled the civil war. Jeb Jennine, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian children in their sparsely furnished room, which they share with a number of other refugee families. This room is in an unfinished structure that is completely unsuitable for human habitation. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Syrians who fled the civil war living in a shed, rented from Lebanese. Jeb Jennine, Baqaa Valley, Lebanon Febuary 2014
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Syrians who fled the civil war living in a shed, rented from Lebanese. Jeb Jennine, Baqaa Valley, Lebanon Febuary 2014

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Cooking area of a building shared by many Syrian families who fled the civil war in Syria. Jeb Jennine, Lebanon. February 2014

© Stephen Boyle - Premises inhabited by Syrians fleeing the civil war. Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.
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Premises inhabited by Syrians fleeing the civil war. Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Children line up for a photograph in an informal settlement for those fleeing the Syrian war and for members of the Roma community. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian refugees at a settlement which they share with more long standing Roma residents. At Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian woman (33) in her rented garage in which she lives with her family. The garage was rented to them by Lebanese, but they are still charged $200 US monthly for rent and the building is unsuitable for human habitation. To try and make money for the rent they collect scrap which they sell for $2 for about 20kg. Previously she owned and ran a store in Damascus and her husband was a glass maker. The family fled after their house and business was destroyed by a rocket as they sheltered in the basement. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian boy playing in the unfinished husk of a building he lives in with his family and many others. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Young Syrian refugees in their tent. Jeb Jennine, Baqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.
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Young Syrian refugees in their tent. Jeb Jennine, Baqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian children playing in the unfinished building in which they live with many other Syrian families who fled the civil war. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. February 2014.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian child: this photo was taken by another child who, out of curiosity, borrowed my camera for a minute. Jeb Jennine, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon.

© Stephen Boyle - Image from the Welcome To Lebanon photography project
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Syrian refugee with his child in his dark tent beside the mat which is the only thing he has to sit on. Jeb Jennine, Lebanon. February 2014.

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