Syrian refugees in Lebanon venture into trade as new source of income

With a huge drop in the aid provided by the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and its Non-Governmental Organizations partners, Syrian refugees in Lebanon found that entering the trading business could be a solution for ameliorating their harsh living conditions.

Abdallah al-Hajji, a 55-year-old displaced Syrian, told Xinhua that he turned into a grocery shopper in one of the refugee camps in east Lebanon's Bekaa valley, selling biscuits and cheap chocolate candy bars.

"This small shop became the light of hope for my family to ensure a reasonable income to cover our basic needs in light of the drop in the aid provided by the donors," he said.

According to the UNHCR, Lebanon hosts around 1.2 million Syrian refugees that have created a huge burden on the country's infrastructure and security situation.

The Lebanese government applied as of the beginning of the year strict measures to limit the influx of refugees, including depriving any refugee from his status if he leaves Lebanon to enter Syria. Endit