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Trapped and abused: migrant workers’ experiences in Lebanon - by Myriam Boulos/MAGNUM

Migrant workers in Lebanon live in precarious conditions. The Kafala system, or sponsorship system, requires each migrant to have a Lebanese sponsor to be allowed to work in the country. Their fate hinges on the ethical compass of the sponsor who, under this flawed system, can control the lives of migrant workers, often overworking and underpaying them, isolating them from the world, and even denying them access to healthcare. When going through unique stories of migrant workers in Lebanon, themes of racism and discrimination are prevalent. Their mistreatment and exploitation have been normalised to the point that even the most shocking stories have become recurrent.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) runs a clinic in a northern suburb of the capital Beirut called Bourj Hammoud. While the clinic’s services are open to all, the majority of our patients are from migrant communities. We are responding to their medical needs, offering primary healthcare consultations, sexual and reproductive health services, and mental health services, including psychiatric consultations. We also cover the cost of referrals for hospitalisation, including for psychiatric emergencies. As for the huge non-medical needs, we conduct a needs assessment for patients and refer them to other organisations to receive services beyond our ability to respond to.

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