世界发展银行-Beirut-Residents_-Perspectives-on-August-4-Blast---Findings-from-a-Needs-and-Perception-Survey_56页_2mb

Summary of Beirut Residents' Perspectives on August 4 Blast

Core Content

This document presents the findings of a needs and perception survey conducted by the World Bank Group in the aftermath of the August 4, 2020 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. The survey aimed to understand the impact of the explosion on residents, their expressed needs and concerns, and their perceptions of the recovery and reconstruction efforts. The survey was carried out from August 13 to 20, 2020, targeting the most affected areas using geotargeted Facebook ads. The data was collected in three languages (Arabic, English, and French) and included 29 questions covering socio-economic status, damage assessment, trust in institutions, future outlook, and needs and concerns.

Main Findings

1. Impact of the Blast

• The explosion caused hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and significant destruction of livelihoods and properties.
• The worst-affected areas were Zone 1 (port and surrounding areas), Zone 2 (Ashrafieh), and Zoukak el-Blatt.
• Zone 1 had the highest impact index, with over 66% of respondents displaced and nearly half reporting major or structural damage.
• Zone 2 also showed high impact, with 72% of respondents reporting minor damage and 21% major damage.
• Zones 3 and 4 had major damage but to a lesser extent than Zones 1 and 2.
• Southern suburbs and Mount Lebanon reported less damage, with only 12% of Southern suburb respondents indicating more than minor damage.

2. Expressed Needs and Concerns

• Mental health services were most frequently requested across all zones and wealth categories.
• Access to food was identified as an urgent need, especially among poorer populations.
• Housing was a key concern for those in Zones 1 and 2.
• Men prioritized food, income, and legal services, while women emphasized medical, mental health, and safety.
• Additional concerns included security, food prices, and the effects of the pandemic.
• Word cloud analysis highlighted food, mental health, and medical assistance as the most commonly mentioned needs.
• Non-Lebanese residents had a higher demand for assistance compared to Lebanese, particularly in food and housing.

3. Trust in Institutions

• Residents generally had low trust in national institutions, especially political parties.
• The Lebanese Red Cross was most trusted across all age groups and zones.
• International organizations were more trusted than local ones.
• Confidence in recovery assistance was low, with less than 10% expressing high confidence in how funds would be used.
• Pessimism about the future was widespread, with majority of respondents believing that Lebanon's situation and quality of life will worsen in five years.

4. Volunteering and Community Solidarity

• Approximately 25% of respondents volunteered in the aftermath of the explosion.
• Youth (18-24 years) were more likely to volunteer.
• Women were more involved in food and cash donations (over 76% and 71% respectively).
• Volunteering activities included distributing food, cleaning debris, and providing medical and mental health services.

5. Socioeconomic Context

• Lebanon was already in a severe crisis before the explosion, including:
  • Syrian refugee influx.
  • Economic crisis with high inflation (112.4% by July 2020).
  • Bank restrictions on withdrawals.
  • Impact of the pandemic on the healthcare system and employment.
  • Political instability and lack of trust in government.
• The poor and middle class were already in dire need of financial support.

Key Information

• The survey was nonprobability-based and not fully representative of all affected individuals due to internet access limitations.
• Post-stratification calibration was used to adjust the sample based on gender, age, zone, household size, and education.
• A relative wealth index was developed using household variables such as home and car ownership, education, and income.
• Data was anonymized and publicly available on the World Bank Microdata platform.
• Residents emphasized the need for transparency, inclusivity, and fair distribution of recovery assistance.
• Community participation was encouraged, with many expressing a desire to be involved in rebuilding efforts.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The survey highlights the urgent need for mental health, food, and housing support.
• Trust in institutions remains low, necessitating transparent and inclusive recovery mechanisms.
• Equitable distribution of assistance is crucial, especially to reach the most vulnerable.
• Volunteering and community engagement should be supported and integrated into recovery programs.
• Long-term investments in livelihoods, mental health, and economic stability are needed to ensure sustainable recovery.

Structure and Methodology

• The survey used quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Principal component analysis was used to construct the impact index based on physical and property damage.
• Open-ended responses were analyzed using qualitative data analysis software to identify themes and concerns.
• The sample size was 3,416 respondents, with 56% female and 90% Lebanese.
• The wealth distribution varied by zone, with Southern suburbs being the poorest and Zones 2 and 3 being the wealthiest.

Figures and Tables

• Figure 1: Percentages of respondents expressing one need or more, by zone.
• Figure 2: Map showing sample size per surveyed area.
• Figure 3: Map showing relative wealth per surveyed area.
• Figure 4: Wealth distribution, by zone.
• Figure 5: Map showing percent worst affected by the blast per zone.
• Figure 6: Percentages of respondent displacement, per zone.
• Figure 7: Impact of explosion on respondents' residence, by zone.
• Figure 8: Personal injuries and deaths (of at least one household member), by zone.
• Figure 9: Expressed needs, by zone.
• Figure 10: Expressed needs, by wealth categories.
• Figure 11: Expressed needs, by extent of impact.
• Figure 12: Word cloud of expressed assistance needs.
• Figure 13: Expressed concerns, by wealth categories.
• Figure 14: Word cloud of expressed concerns.
• Figure 15: Trust in various actors.
• Figure 16: Trust in various actors, by age.
• Figure 17: Average trust per actor, by wealth categories.
• Figure 18: Confidence in usage and spending of recovery assistance.
• Figure 19: Average confidence levels about usage and spending of recovery assistance, by impact quartiles.
• Figure 20: Respondents' perceptions on the situation in Lebanon in five years, by impact quartiles.
• Figure 21: Distribution of respondents' prospects for the future.
• Figure 22: Distribution of respondents' confidence in country-wide unity after the blast.
• Figure 23: Respondents' interest in volunteering, by age.
• Figure 24: Word cloud of volunteering.
• Table 1: Sample size by geographic area.