Lebanon: More aid needed as Syrian refugees freeze to death

With appalling winter conditions leading to the deaths of Syrian refugees, CAFOD and its Church partners are providing heaters, fuel, warm clothes, blankets and safe shelter.

Winter storms have covered much of the Middle East in snow, leaving refugees who have fled the war in Syria huddling for warmth in their makeshift tents. The snow brought a temporary pause in the fighting in Syria, where the conflict has been raging for almost five years. But the freezing weather has brought further suffering to millions of people who have been forced from their homes.

Alan Thomlinson, CAFOD’s Emergency Manager for Syria, said: “In the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, camps are covered in snow, roads are blocked, and temperatures have been falling below zero. A number of Syrian refugees have frozen to death or been killed by fires as they desperately try to keep their shelters warm.

“Conditions are harsh enough at the best of times for the refugees, half of whom are children. The cold weather puts them and older people with health conditions at even greater risk.”

The war in Syria has brought about one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. 7.6 million people who have been forced from their homes are still living in Syria, while 3.3 million survive as refugees in neighbouring countries. Many live in improvised shelters, derelict or unfinished buildings, cowsheds or even in the open air.

In Lebanon, CAFOD has been working with its partner Caritas Lebanon to deliver food, blankets, heaters, fuel, warm clothes and safe shelter to thousands of people. But with more than one million refugees in the country, it is a huge challenge to reach all those in need.

Bruno Atieh, Director of the Caritas Lebanon Migrants Centre, said: “The situation is really bad as the snowstorms have been stronger than we have seen in recent years. The storms have destroyed tents leaving many refugees homeless in the cold weather. Our winterisation efforts have helped prepare, but we need more to cover the needs, especially for families with children.”

Catholics in England and Wales have donated almost £2.8 million to CAFOD’s Syria Crisis appeal, which has enabled the agency’s Church partners to reach tens of thousands of people in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and inside Syria itself. But with no end in sight to the war, CAFOD continues to welcome donations.

Alan Thomlinson said: “Despite the challenges, the generosity of Catholics in England and Wales is making a massive difference to a huge number of people. We are extremely thankful to everyone who has donated, and we will continue to do all we can to reach those most in need.”

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Source: CAFOD