This report summarizes the conflict context of the Hasbaya and Marjaayoun Qazas of the Nabatieh Governorate, a religiously and politically diverse area which has for decades been at the forefront of regional dynamics and conflicts. In terms of composition and key actors, the area can roughly be divided into four sub-region. First is the predominantly Sunnite Arqoub region where Future Movement and Islamic political parties are the main actors, though with significant support to leftist and nationalist parties. Second are the Druze villages of Hasbaya where Irslan is dominant but where intra-sectarian consensus – within and beyond the Lebanese border – is given priority. Third is Marjaayoun and its surroundings, home of both Christian political parties and nationalist parties. Last are the mostly Shiite southern Marjaayoun villages where the March 8 coalition of Hezbollah and the Amal movement dominates.

A long history of coexistence supported by economic and geostrategic interdependence and historic cross border relationships, as well national level political will and existing local networks of communications, are maintaining the region’s stability and safeguarding it from being drawn into the adjacent battles of the Syrian crisis. Some competition over resources and livelihood opportunities between members of the host community and the Syrian refugees exists. Day-to-day livelihood of Syrian refugees is made more difficult by the new requirements for the renewal of residency and the discrepancies in the application by the authorities, coupled with the contestation of members of some of the Lebanese communities of the presence of informal settlements of Syrian refugees. The unknown fate of the Syrian crisis, the vulnerability of the area to ramifications of developments in Syria and/or Israel, and the increasing dependence on revenue from the war economy and aid might have a dividing impact.

To offset these possible dividers the report recommends that humanitarian and stabilization partners and civil society organizations invest in impact driven local development projects, further prioritize border areas in the distribution of both humanitarian and stabilization assistance, and support existing conflict mitigation mechanisms. Furthermore, a review of the entry and residency renewal regulations on Syrian refugees by the Lebanese Government would not only uphold the human rights of refugees but also contribute to the wider stability of the area.