Akkar Governorate

{{Short description|Governorate of Lebanon}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Akkar

| native_name = {{langx|ar|محافظة عكار}}

| settlement_type = Governorate

| image_skyline = Berkayl.jpg

| image_caption = Berkayel, Akkar Governorate

| image_flag =

| image_seal =

| image_shield =

| image_map = Akkar in Lebanon 2020.svg

| map_caption = Location of Akkar Governorate in Lebanon

| pushpin_map =

| coordinates = {{coord|34.5|N|36.2|E|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Lebanon}}

| subdivision_type1 = District

| subdivision_name1 = Akkar District

| subdivision_type2 = Municipalities

| subdivision_name2 = see list

| established_title = Gazetted

| established_date = 16 July 2003

| seat_type = Capital

| seat = Halba

| leader_party =

| leader_title = Governor

| leader_name = Imad Labaki

| area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://data2.unhcr.org/fr/documents/download/44893 |title=Akkar Governorate Profile |publisher=UNHCR |date=June 2015 |accessdate=19 February 2017}}

| area_total_km2 = 788.4

| area_land_km2 =

| area_water_km2 =

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| pop_est_footnotes = {{cite web |last=Brinkhoff |first=Thomas |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/lebanon/admin/ |title=Lebanon: Administrative Division |website=City Population |date=2 March 2019 |accessdate=3 July 2021}}

| population_est = 423596

| pop_est_as_of = 31 December 2017

| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone1 = EET

| utc_offset1 = +2

| timezone1_DST = EEST

| utc_offset1_DST = +3

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| area_code_type =

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| website =

}}

Akkar Governorate ({{langx|ar|محافظة عكار}}) is the northernmost governorate of Lebanon. It comprises the single district of Akkar,{{cite web |url=http://www.localiban.org/rubrique893.html |title=Mohafazah de Aakkar |publisher=Localiban |accessdate=19 February 2017 |archive-date=26 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926190837/http://www.localiban.org/rubrique893.html |url-status=dead }} which in turn is subdivided into 121 municipalities. The capital is at Halba. It covers an area of {{cvt|788|km2|sqmi}} and is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, North Governorate to the south, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate to the southeast, and the Syrian governorates of Tartus and Homs to the north and northeast. The governorate's western coastal plain constitutes Lebanon's second largest agricultural region after the Beqaa Valley, while the east features forested mountains that have been considered for protection as a national park.{{cite web |url=http://www.mada.org.lb/Content/Actives/MADA_Recources/122/FilePDF_122.pdf |title=Towards a National Park in Upper Akkar |publisher=Mada |date=March 2009 |accessdate=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913183101/http://mada.org.lb/Content/Actives/MADA_Recources/122/FilePDF_122.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}

The UNHCR estimated the population of the governorate at 389,899 in 2015, including 106,935 registered refugees of the Syrian Civil War and 19,404 Palestinian refugees. The population is predominantly Sunni Muslim around 70-75% with a minority of Christian and Alawite communities and very few Shiites. Akkar is Lebanon's least urbanized governorate, with 80% of the population living in rural areas.{{cite web |last=Mouchref |first=Aicha |date=January 2008 |title=Forgotten Akkar: Socio-Economic Reality of the Akkar Region |url=https://civilsociety-centre.org/sites/default/files/resources/MADA_Forgotten_Akkar_SocioEconomicReality_Jan08.pdf |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |accessdate=28 November 2024 |website=Civil Society Knowledge Center |publisher=Mada}}

Akkar Governorate was created by the enactment of Law 522 on 16 July 2003, in which Akkar District was separated from North Governorate.{{cite web |url=http://www.localiban.org/rubrique394.html |title=Territorial administration of Lebanon |publisher=Localiban |accessdate=19 February 2017 |archive-date=8 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008101536/http://www.localiban.org/rubrique394.html |url-status=dead }} Implementation of the new region only began in 2014 with the appointment of the first and current governor, Imad Labaki,{{cite news |url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/128994 |title=Cabinet Appoints 5 New Governors, Accepts Qaloush's Resignation |date=2 May 2014 |publisher=Naharnet |accessdate=19 February 2017}} and remains incomplete {{as of|2017|lc=y}}.{{cite news |last=Obeid |first=Ghinwa |url=http://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/the-daily-star-lebanon/20170209/281569470470909 |title=Akkar governorate in dire need of security and development |date=9 February 2017 |publisher=The Daily Star |accessdate=19 February 2017}}

File: Akkar 2017-08.png

Historically marginalized and neglected by the central government, Akkar is Lebanon's poorest region and has the country's highest illiteracy rate, and suffers from lack of basic infrastructure and services. The recent influx of Syrian refugees has exacerbated these problems, with the unemployment rate in the governorate reaching almost 60% in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/download.php?id=11606 |title=North and Akkar Governorates Profile |publisher=UNHCR |date=2016 |accessdate=19 February 2017 |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226023008/http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/download.php?id=11606 |url-status=dead }}