A group of 31 experts will today be the first graduates of a
master's degree created by IOM in cooperation with the Lebanese
University aimed at building the capacities of local professionals
in responding to the mid- and long-term psychosocial needs of
persons caught in a conflict situation.

Funded by the Belgian Development Cooperation and the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) with institutional support from
the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs, the master's programme was
offered to 27 Lebanese and four Middle Eastern professionals from
different backgrounds already providing psychosocial assistance to
a variety of affected populations.

Their varying professional backgrounds and experience with
different affected populations make the graduates an essential
resource in responding to future psychosocial needs within the
Middle East.

"The programme didn't only teach the techniques of intervention,
but also broadened the students' perspectives and gave them a new
vision," said Dr. Frederick Maatouk, director of the diploma.

Lebanon has now included the masters in its National Plan for
Psychosocial Response, while IOM is expanding the programme to
cover the entire Middle East, also adding a new diploma targeting
primary school teachers to better respond to the educational and
psychosocial needs of displaced populations in an emergency.

"Not only have we created a network of experts, but they will
also act as a think tank on this subject and as future trainers of
other professionals so that there will be a strong level of
preparedness in dealing with psychosocial issues when there is an
emergency," said Guglielmo Schinina, IOM's psychosocial programme
manager for the Middle East.

IOM is seeking funding for future initiatives, including the
creation of a multi-disciplinary team of graduate experts who will
train others in Lebanon and who can also act as an immediate
response team in an emergency under the guidance of the Ministry of
Social Affairs.

Nearly two years after the crisis in Lebanon, which led to the
displacement of hundreds of thousands of persons, continued
political instability, the volatility of the security situation,
and an overall stressful environment continue to threaten the
psychosocial wellbeing of the population.  This, added to the
psychosocial needs of Iraqis displaced in Lebanon, and the returnee
Palestinian population.

For further information, please contact:

Randa Nassar

IOM Lebanon

Tel: +96 11 752 118

E-mail: "mailto:rnassar@iom.int">rnassar@iom.int