Journalist Safety & Support in Syria, Lebanon & Palestine

Practical training, monitoring, and emergency support for journalists working in high-risk environments

Journalists working in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine face some of the most complex and high-risk operating environments in the world. From armed conflict and civil unrest to detention, surveillance, and travel insecurity, reporters in these contexts often work under sustained pressure and threat.

While international organisations such as IMS, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Free Press Unlimited play a vital role in advocacy and protection, journalists on the ground also require practical, immediate, and regionally embedded safety support. Stratum Levant provides operational journalist safety services in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, combining hostile environment training in Jordan, real-time monitoring, emergency response, and trusted local networks to support journalists before, during, and after assignments.

Why Journalist Safety in Syria, Lebanon & Palestine Matters

Journalists in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine operate in environments characterised by:

Armed conflict and periodic escalation
Political instability and civil unrest
Restrictions on movement and access
Detention, harassment, and intimidation
Limited access to emergency medical care

Local journalists, freelancers, and investigative reporters are often the most exposed, frequently operating without formal institutional safety support. Addressing these risks requires more than policy guidance, it requires training, preparedness, and real operational capability inside the region.

A Practical, Operational Approach to Journalist Safety

Stratum Levant’s journalist safety services are designed to be:

Practical — focused on real-world risks and scenarios
Discreet — protecting journalists without unnecessary exposure
Operational — backed by in-region capability and response networks

Our work complements global journalist safety organisations by focusing on training, monitoring, and emergency support, rather than advocacy or policy.

Journalist Safety Services in Syria, Lebanon & Palestine

HEFAR Training for Journalists

Hostile Environment & First Aid Training (HEFAR)

Our HEFAR training is the most advanced and fully accredited Hostile Environment Awareness training available in the region and prepares journalists to work more safely in hostile and high-risk environments across Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. The course focuses on:

Risk awareness and situational assessment
Personal safety in conflict and unrest
Movement planning and checkpoint awareness
Advanced first aid, trauma, and blast injury response
Decision-making under pressure

The training is tailored specifically for journalists and delivered by experienced professionals. We have successfully delivered HEFAR training to investigative journalists from ARIJ, with further courses planned.

24/7 Operations Centre

Journalists enrolled in our safety support service have access to a 24/7 operations centre, providing:

Continuous monitoring during assignments
Situation updates and local risk advisories
Direct access to security professionals
Incident escalation and response coordination

This ensures journalists are never operationally isolated, even when working independently or in remote locations.

Travel Tracking, Alerts & SOS Support

Our journalist safety subscription includes access to travel risk management tools that provide:

Live travel tracking
Location-based security alerts
One-touch SOS functionality
Two-way communication during incidents

These tools allow rapid response and sustained situational awareness throughout an assignment.

Emergency Response & Crisis Support

If a serious incident occurs, Stratum Levant can coordinate:

Immediate telemedicine access
Emergency medical support and evacuation pathways
Secure relocation and movement assistance
Liaison with trusted local partners
Support to newsrooms and next of kin

Our role is to reduce response time and confusion during critical incidents, allowing journalists to focus on safety and recovery.

Secure Coworking Hubs

We provide access to secure coworking hubs for journalists operating in the region, including:

Beirut
Amman (regional support hub)
Damascus

These spaces offer a discreet working environment with reliable connectivity and access to trusted local support.

Vetted Drivers, Fixers & Local Support

Journalists working in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine can access:

Security-vetted drivers
Experienced local fixers
Trusted translators and logistical support
Context-aware local guidance

All support is provided with a strong emphasis on journalist safety, discretion, and trust.

Who We Support

Our journalist safety services are available to:

Local journalists and reporters
Investigative journalists
Conflict and war correspondents
Freelance journalists
Media organisations and journalism networks

Support can be provided to individual journalists as well as newsrooms and collectives.

Making Journalist Safety More Accessible

Stratum Levant is committed to strengthening the journalist safety ecosystem in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, particularly for local and freelance journalists who often face the highest risks with the least support.

We are open to working with journalist safety foundations, donors, and media support organisations to:

Expand access to HEFAR training
Subsidise journalist safety subscriptions
Enable block access for journalism networks and collectives
Support emergency response and crisis assistance

Our aim is to ensure that practical journalist safety support is accessible, not only available.

Working with Journalist Safety Foundations & Donors

stratum Levant welcomes collaboration with:

Journalist safety foundations
Media development donors
Press freedom organisations
Journalism support initiatives

We support foundation-funded and donor-backed access models, including:

Block purchases of journalist safety packages
Sponsored HEFAR training cohorts
Regional journalist safety programmes
Emergency support mechanisms

All partnerships are designed to complement existing advocacy and protection efforts, while delivering tangible, operational support on the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this service available to freelance journalists?

Yes. Freelance journalists can access both training and subscription-based safety support.

Do journalists need organisational backing to enroll?

No. Individual journalists may engage directly with Stratum Levant.

Is support confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality and discretion are central to our operations.

Can foundations or donors sponsor access to these services?

Yes. We actively work with foundations and donors to expand journalist safety access across the region.

Does this replace organisations like CPJ or Free Press Unlimited?

No. Our services are complementary, focusing on operational safety, training, and emergency support.

Request Journalist Safety Support

Whether you are an individual journalist, a media organisation, or a foundation seeking to support journalist safety in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, we welcome enquiries.