In view of the dramatic refugee situation as a result of the Syrian war, the Zurich City Council launched an action programme in September 2015 that includes local and international interventions. Of the approximately six million Syrian refugees who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, around 1.4 million are still in Lebanon towards the end of the decade. Even characterized by the consequences of a long civil war, repeated military interventions by its neighbors, political instability, economic crises and a poorly intact infrastructure, this country with its approximately 4 million inhabitants achieves an enormous amount in the reception of refugees – especially individual cities and municipalities.
Zurich's international commitment aims to sustainably support a so-called "first flight city" in Lebanon in overcoming the municipal challenges posed by the immigration of refugees since 2011. Zurich's commitment does not focus on supporting Syrian refugees, but takes into account the entire local population – of which the refugees are a part.

Three rapid interventions at municipal level
From 2016 to 2017, the City of Zurich supported three so-called "Community Support Projects", which were carried out in cooperation with the Swiss aid organization Solidar Suisse in the vicinity of the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh. These are the renovation of a school in Houmine el Fawqa, with the aim of being able to take in more Syrian refugee children, as well as the renovation and equipping of a hospital in Kaakyet El Jeser. In addition, the aid organization built a groundwater well in Qsaibet, where there was no longer enough clean drinking water available due to the strong population increase.

Establishment of a project partnership with the city of Tyre
Since 2017, the City of Zurich has maintained a project partnership with the southern Lebanese port city of Tyros. At the heart of the temporary partnership is the exchange between experts from Zurich and Tyre. Their knowledge benefits both the two city administrations and, indirectly, the urban population. In terms of content, the exchange of experts relates to the topics of mobility and refugee reception. In the field of mobility, concrete projects such as a bicycle rental system are planned and implemented. In April 2021, for example, the city of Tyros opened two bike rental stations with the support of the City of Zurich. The aim is to improve the traffic situation in Tyre and to simplify access to the city centre for those residents who do not own a car. The project lays the foundation for a future with more sustainable transport options. With the bicycles, users can choose an alternative means of transport that is not only environmentally friendly, but can also reduce the burden of COVID-19, while at the same time reducing traffic congestion, accidents and pollution in the city.
Even though the framework conditions in Zurich and Tyre differ greatly, all participants benefit from an exchange on an equal footing. The UN Habitat Lebanon Office supports the project partnership between the two cities in terms of organisation and content.

Study trips to Tyre and Zurich on the subject of "refugee reception"
As part of the project partnership, "experts in refugee reception" are to get to know and discuss the other situation on the ground. For this purpose, a regular exchange takes place in the form of study trips, which lead alternately to Tyre or Zurich. Due to the current fragile economic and political situation in Lebanon as well as the global Covid-19 pandemic, the planned trips are suspended until further notice.