Crisis in Lebanon: Refugees fight for survival in the cold winter

Crisis in Lebanon: Refugees fight for survival in the cold winter

In Lebanon, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly catastrophic, as the latest reports show. According to the UNHCR representative Ivo Freijsen, the last few weeks have been the most fatal in decades, with over 3,500 deaths and 15,000 injuries by the reinforced air and soil attacks. Threatened civilians are continued to flee in their emergency, while a cold winter occurs that exacerbates the situation. The UNHCR has supported 450,000 people with food, protection and accommodation since October, but the willingness to help is in an alarming imbalance, as there are less than 50 percent of the required funds available to cope with the humanitarian crisis, so UNHCR .

Russian return plans and acute not

The situation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon is also dramatic. For a long time, the refugees' return was the focus of Lebanese politics, but this plan remains unrealistic. The promise of return is devalued by massive infrastructure destruction in Syria, for example by bombing that endanger people's lives there. According to reports, around a quarter of the Syrian refugees would like to return to their homeland over the next twelve months. Mariam, a refugee mother in Lebanon, describes that despite great longing, she wants to stay at home in order to secure the basic needs of her children. The UNHCR data show that 80 percent of the returning refugees are women and children who are often injured and in need of help. The current conflicts have meant that the return to Syria is not possible for many, which is only one of the many challenges with which those affected are confronted with, such as Kleine Zeitung reported.

Caritas in Lebanon tries as best as possible to help the refugees by providing medical care centers and mobile units. The traumatic experiences and the lack of basic resources lead to a high need for psychological and medical support. At the moment, many refugees live under extremely difficult conditions, without access to education or adequate health care. Therefore, the need for international aid is urgent and essential to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and to enable people in Lebanon and Syria to have a decent life.