Feature: Sustenance tops schooling for Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Syrian refugee Salima el-Azzi, displaced from the town of Idlib, spent most of her time the past few days clothes shopping for her three children in a popular market in the Bekaa region in East Lebanon, with a very tight budget.

"I am think how I can meet my childrens' needs on the eve of their school year," el-Azzi told Xinhua, explaining that she works as a housemaid for a monthly pay of 200 U.S. dollars "whilst the monthly rent for the room we live in is 130 U.S. dollars."

She added "we are in dire need and school is very important for my children, but providing sustenance remains a priority currently and we can't compromise, therefore we have to spend cautiously."

In the same market, Alia abou Dehaini, displaced from Aleppo, tried finding a sweater and a pair of trousers for her young son so he could face the winter cold whilst at school.

"With school requirements, expenses rose, and we face difficulty meeting them due to the current harsh situation we are undergoing," she explained to Xinhua.

However, Suzanne al-Horaiki, displaced from Damascus, explains that the minimum expenses Syrian refugees bear before entering school are between 50 and 100 U.S. dollars.

She pointed out to Xinhua that "the average Syrian family has four children, which means the total cost of sending them to school is much higher than their capability, resulting in many opting not to send their children to school."

Mohammad al-Ali, displaced from Idlib, stressed that "heating fuel, daily bread and milk for the children are my top priorities."

He told Xinhua "My four children are in school, however I cannot provide them with their school needs such as transportation, books and uniforms, not to mention clothes and shoes, therefore I decided not to send all four to school."

He added "I registered the youngest in school and the other three will help me provide our daily needs since the United Nations Higher Commission for refugees (UNHCR) cut its aid."

Displaced Amer al-Husseine told Xinhua that the Lebanese ministry of Education opened its school doors for Syrian refugees for free, adding "it even provided them with free books and stationary."

He added "this means that most of the school year expenses are covered, but poverty and destitution test our ability to provide the rest of our needs."

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Education, there are around 400,000 Syrian refugees of school age, with public schools capable of accommodating half of them, while Islamic Charity schools can accommodate 15,000.

The Ministry last September launched the "Back to School" campaign for Syrian refugee children financed by 94 million US dollars in financial aid from both UNICEF, the UNHCR and International Donors. Endit