For Caritas Lebanon, "thousands of Syrian refugees could die from the cold and the snow"
Beirut (AsiaNews) - "The situation in the Bekaa Valley is terrible," said Mgr Simon Faddoul, president of Caritas Lebanon. "Many people are dying because of the exceptionally cold weather. Refugees have only tents and shacks to protect themselves from the cold and the snow."
Now, the more than 800,000 Syrian refugees stranded in camps on the border with Syria are having to cope with Alexa, an intense storm that has battered the Middle East with snow and rain, causing whiteout conditions and floods across the region.
"Together with other non-governmental organisations and the United Nations, Caritas has tried to help refugees," Mgr Faddoul said. "In recent weeks, we have handed out thousands of blankets, mattresses, kerosene heaters, winter clothing, plastic sheeting and fuel coupons in the hope of averting the worst, but our efforts are not enough. There is a daily exodus (from Syria) and the number of people who cross the border is now huge."
In view of the situation, the clergyman has urged Western countries and all Christians to send money and aid to the Syrian people.
In the Bekaa Valley alone, there are about 430 makeshift camps. Better off families have been able to build huts using wooden planks, jute bags and metal sheets, which have become a luxury item.
Meanwhile, the latest arrivals have tried to find shelter with other families, but the huts are small and families are big. For many people, the only alternative is sleeping in tents made of plastic sheeting, cardboard, tires and other junk.
For Mgr Faddoul, winter this year has turned an already serious humanitarian situation into a catastrophe for the refugees.
"Mothers are trying to keep their children warm by building bonfires inside the huts. This is highly risky. Last night, in a camp in southern Lebanon, a small fire spread from one hut to the entire camp, killing a one-year-old baby, and injuring a number of people. Such accidents can happen any day."
An "emergency of this kind can only be met with the charity," the priest said, "by giving aid and remembering, especially at Christmas, the fate of hundreds of thousands of people who lost family and home in the past three years and are now in danger of dying from cold and hunger."
Yet, in spite of the serious situation, many refugee families, Muslims and Christians, are preparing for Christmas. To help them, Caritas is organising a number of activities over the next few days for the children living in the refugee camps.
"With the help of our volunteers, we are preparing games and carols to bring a little hope and joy, at least for the little ones," Mgr Faddoul said.
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