THE DOM: A TRICKY EQUATION Dom statelessness constitutes a challenging category based on how isolated many of their communities are. Thus, their stateless cases can be characterized as highly complex, due to geographical, social and contextual factors. • According to the main survey, around 66% of Dom still live in tents. Others chose a hybrid lifestyle, in which tents are placed next to houses. Thus, the sedentism process is gradual and not homogeneous. This contrasts with all other stateless, including the Bedouin, where sedentary housing models are the norm. • Due to intermarriage, it is very difficult to separate Lebanese from nonLebanese (mainly Syrian) Dom. Even some mukhtars tend to be confused about the question. • Many hold both Syrian and Lebanese documents. So even if they declare themselves as MeQ in Lebanon, some individuals might hold a Syrian identity document, or the Syrian ta’arif card delivered by Syrian mukhtars. “ The Dom are liars, you can’t take a trustful word out of their mouth - Lebanese villager, El Kouweichra, April 13. • Furthermore, some Dom have chosen to register as “Syrian refugees” in order to benefit from aid, which could explain the suspicious behavior observed by some potential respondents when approached for the study, probably worried that their participation could endanger their aid eligibility. Some even fled during the interview. • Some of the Dom are so marginalized and isolated that they are unaware of the advantages of acquiring citizenship. • A certain degree of fatigue towards NGOs and other organizations can be strongly felt among members of the Dom community, expressing disappointment about the level of support offered to their community. © 2021 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved.