Lebanon: Syrian refugees face another devastating winter in Bekaa Valley

Flooding in Lebanon

Source: CAFOD

Thousands of Syrian refugees are in urgent need of emergency assistance following days of snow and freezing temperatures.

Storm Norma, which has brought flooding in addition to the harsh winter conditions, has affected at least 151 informal camps, housing 11,000 refugees, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

CAFOD's Syria Crisis Manager Alan Thomlinson said: "This is probably the worst winter since the beginning of the Syrian war, eight years ago. Although winter provisions were in place, nothing could have prepared us for this storm.

"Many families are living in makeshift shelters not suitable for the freezing conditions. Now, because of the storm, they are being forced to watch what little they have wash away in flash floods.

"Even before the storm, refugees were living in poor conditions - many of the camps are built on farmland, which is prone to flooding. This combined with wind, rain, snow, and freezing conditions is enough to push the situation from precarious to catastrophic."

Alan continued: "Our local emergency experts on the ground who have been providing vital aid to Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, are doing all that they can to support the vulnerable, including the elderly, children and disabled people, so they can survive another unforgiving winter."

Over the winter, CAFOD and its local aid agency provided items such as blankets and mattresses for vulnerable Syrian families facing the harsh winter in informal settlements in the Bekaa Valley.

To donate to CAFOD's Syria crisis appeal, please visit: Syria crisis appeal