Feature: Syrians displaced in Lebanon risk anything to cross to Europe

The adventure of crossing the Mediterranean Sea to the shores of Europe has overnight become the main concern of the Syrian refuges in northern Lebanon, who have been enduring harsh living conditions following the United Nations cut the aid to them.

Mohammad al-Rashidi, 55, was waiting at the main entrance of a practically inhabitable building in Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli for the return of his wife and daughter from their work at a clothing factory.

Al-Rashidi fled his home in the devastated Syrian city of Homs. "I was fired from my work in a construction site in the city about a year ago. I have been living with my family in Tripoli since four years but we have never felt the difficulties we are facing following the UNHCR cut in aid".

He said that the aid together with his daily wage was enough for the family to "sustain our living. But the owner of the construction site decided suddenly to lower the number of workers he hires, so I was fired and this coincided with the cut in aid from the agencies that were financed by the Arab Gulf States".

Al-Rashidi was determined when he said "since no solution to the crisis in our country is looming, and turned to be a bargaining tool in the hands of the U.S. to impose its conditions, we have started thinking of immigrating."

Some of Al-Rashidi's compatriots have taken the perils of immigrating through Greece illegally for 2,000 U.S. dollars per person, "but they reached there after a long and miserable hardship."

"Misery and risks do not matter as the most important thing for us now is to reach any country that would accept us and provide us with aid," he said.

Though some European countries are ready to accept Syrian refugees, Al-Rashidi said they still face problems of how to leave Lebanon after the strict measures by the Lebanese army which have driven most of the traffickers to stop their activity.

Another displaced Syrian, Khaled, who refused to reveal his full identity, said he is leaving Lebanon soon with his family for Greece. His brother left few months ago through traffickers to Greece and then off to Germany where he is currently residing safely with his family.

Khaled fled his Douma home in the Damascus neighborhoods. "I owned a cab in Damascus but I sold it lately and saved the money for the trip. I will take with my wife and four children. I would not hesitate for a second to face perils and risks as it turned to be our last hope for living."

He lamented that the world is watching Syrians' misery, while the Arab countries that use to support the displaced have refrained and refused to open their doors.

Im Mohammad, who refused also to reveal her full identity for judicial and security reasons, said her son had left with friends for Turkey by sea, and then he managed to go to Sweden and is now trying to arrange her travel with two brothers. "I have saved some money for that purpose," she said.

Her husband died in Lebanon two years ago due to the lack of treatment of his illness. After that, she said the family would "take any road that would lead us to a better living, whatever the perils and dangers we will face."

According to the UN Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Lebanon now hosts more than 1.2 million Syrian refugees, including about 450,000 women and children.

The recent cut of UNHCR aid due to budget reasons has exacerbated the already existing misery of the Syrians in Lebanon. The latest statistics showed that a rise in the maritime activity from the port of Tripoli has been recorded, with Syrians as the main passengers. Endit