The integration of trauma-informed and ethical frameworks in qualitative research concerning survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) within displaced communities is critical. These individuals often bear the weight of traumatic experiences compounded by displacement and associated hardships. Adopting a trauma-informed approach establishes a safe environment, prioritizing survivors’ well-being and respecting their agency and narratives, thereby fostering trust and reducing re-traumatization risks. Ethical considerations ensure the dignity, rights, and cultural sensitivities of participants are upheld, contributing to rigorous and humane research. This integration amplifies survivors’ voices and experiences, enhancing understanding and empathy. Trauma-informed approaches acknowledge the likelihood of trauma in individuals’ lives and prioritize safety without aiming to treat symptoms. Proficient interviewing skills aim to improve comfort, safety, and recall without avoiding challenging questions. Integration of trauma-informed principles across all interview phases is crucial, particularly for individuals experiencing various traumas simultaneously, such as displacement, violence, and ongoing conflict. Drawing from the authors’ experiences and existing literature, this paper advocates for a compassionate and empowering shift in qualitative research methodologies to better engage with survivors of trauma and GBV within displaced communities.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region continues to face a severe scale of emergencies as a direct result of conflict and political instability in a number of countries. As of 2020, nine countries out of 22 countries in the region affected by protracted and ongoing wars and conflict, left more than 62 million people in dire need of access to quality health care and adequate response measures. COVID-19 exacerbates the humanitarian needs of the people especially in countries that suffer from humanitarian crises, and drains the already overstretched health care systems. This study was conducted to derive major takeaways and lessons learned from the COVID-19 response in humanitarian and low resource settings that may assist similar vulnerable and fragile settings in different regions in view of a possible next pandemic. The study involved a desk review, document analysis, and key informant interviews with key stakeholders from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. A total of 35 key informant interviews were carried out with health professionals working in humanitarian and low resource settings in the region. This study focuses on the information gathered from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. A key finding of this study is that each of the nine pillars for COVID response has been implemented differently across the different countries. Although the nine pillars guide the overall response to COVID-19 in the region, they also provide countries with an important starting point and an important implementation tool.

Researching displacement in Lebanon requires methodological approaches that are both participatory and trauma-informed—approaches that are ethically inseparable and mutually reinforcing. This paper offers a conceptual and methodological reflection on the integration of trauma-informed principles into participatory research with displaced communities, drawing on fieldwork experiences with Syrian, Palestinian, and other refugee groups in Lebanon. Rather than presenting empirical findings, it critically engages with the ethical, institutional, and structural challenges that hinder the adoption of trauma-informed participatory methods within academic, humanitarian, and policy spaces. The paper proposes a trauma-informed participatory research approach that centers refugee agency, safeguards psychosocial well-being, and promotes co-creation of knowledge. It critiques extractive research practices and reflects on alternative frameworks such as refugee-led storytelling, participatory archiving, and collaborative data governance. By advancing this dual framework, the paper contributes to ongoing debates on ethical research methodologies and outlines principles and practices for institutions seeking to support more just, sustainable, and community-driven research infrastructures in displacement settings.

Background: The Syrian crisis has resulted in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history. Inadequate access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services is a prevailing issue among adolescent girls and young refugee women in humanitarian settings. Objectives: This article aimed to explore and describe the perceived extent of implementation of the different objectives and activities outlined within the minimum initial service package for reproductive health in crisis services in Lebanon, from the perspectives of a diverse set of stakeholders from leading organizations (public, private, primary health centers, nongovernmental organizations) that were directly engaged with the Syrian refugee crisis response. Design: This study is a cross-sectional survey conducted using a standardized and validated questionnaire. Methods: Centers that provided sexual and reproductive health services to Syrian refugees in Lebanon were mapped. The study was based on a purposive sampling approach, retrieving 52 eligible organizations to cover most areas in the country. A total of 43 centers accepted to take part in the study. The head of the center was then asked to identify one person in their center who holds adequate knowledge of the explained objectives of the survey. Accordingly, the identified person was asked to fill out the survey. Results: A considerable portion of the respondents had limited knowledge about the specific minimum initial service package objectives and related sexual and reproductive health services. The study found the presence of a leading reproductive health agency, the Lebanese MoPH, as an essential facilitating factor for sexual and reproductive health service provision in Lebanon and has helped in overseeing the overall sexual and reproductive health coordination response for Syrian refugees (76.74% of all respondents). The identified challenges impeding adequate sexual and reproductive health services provision for Syrian refugees included (1) insufficient supplies (46.51%); (2) insufficient funds (39.53%); and (3) shortage of staff (39.53%). Conclusion: The recommendations for improved sexual and reproductive health service provision include the need for (1) enforcing the lead minimum initial service package agency for adequate and effective coordination, reporting, and accountability and (2) increasing funding for training staff and healthcare workers, as well as improving the overall quality of services available with the inclusion of family planning services, purchasing the necessary commodities, supplies and equipment, and covering fees associated with the different sexual and reproductive health services.

Executive Summary This paper sheds light on the often-overlooked intersectionality of armed conflict, displacement, and sexual and gender identity, with a focus on the experiences of LGBTIQ+ internally displaced persons (IDPs) from South Lebanon amidst the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study conducted 18 in-depth interviews with members of the displaced LGBTIQ+ community to capture the nuances of their lived experiences. Through thematic and narrative analysis, the research aims to uncover the multifaceted challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ individuals who have been internally displaced due to the protracted conflict. The findings highlight the intricate interplay between the external conflict dynamics and the internal struggles of sexual and gender minorities navigating displacement. Themes such as resilience, identity negotiation, discrimination, and community building emerge from the narratives, providing a rich and textured understanding of the intricate fabric of their lives. The paper not only contributes to the growing body of literature on conflict-induced displacement but also foregrounds the unique challenges and coping mechanisms employed by LGBTIQ+ individuals in the face of adversity. By amplifying the voices of those often silenced, this research seeks to inform policies and interventions that are more inclusive and responsive to the specific needs of internally displaced LGBTIQ+ populations in conflict settings, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in their journeys of survival, resilience, and identity reconstruction.

This paper explores the dual marginalization of LGBTIQ+ Syrian refugees in Lebanon, highlighting the interplay between national policies on deportation and the crackdown on the LGBTIQ+ community post-2019. Lebanon, home to 1.5 million Syrian refugees—the highest per capita globally—is a case study in how social, political, economic, and legal frameworks do not merely overlook refugee challenges but actively intensify their isolation. Particularly for LGBTIQ+ Syrian refugees, everyday experiences of violence, discrimination, stigmatization, and isolation are exacerbated by these frameworks. In 2022, this situation worsened when Lebanon's Minister of Interior, yielding to pressure from religious groups, directed security forces to disrupt gatherings within the LGBTIQ+ community. Employing qualitative research methods, this study delves into the compounded effects of these policies on the intersectional vulnerabilities of queer Syrian refugees. It examines their perceptions of vulnerability and security, underlining the profound impacts of overlapping decisions on deportation and the suppression of LGBTIQ+ rights.