Feature: Winter rain worsens situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon

The early winter rain that fell recently is worsening the already poor living conditions for 300, 000 registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, as many of whom are living in randomly erected camps.

These camps, unrecognized by the Lebanese authorities, are erected with the help of local communities and non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on agricultural lands that were leased by Islamic charities, particularly funded by the Arab Gulf states.

With the early winter rains that fell recently in north Lebanon, these camps now turn to be sources of high environmental and health risks arising from waste water and pollution.

But only a few camps' poor conditions attract attention of international and local NGOs.

"There are more than 100 random camps in north Lebanon, and only a few of them are being of interest to the international NGOs," Syrian activist Mohammad al-Abed told Xinhua.

The NGOs have secured for the refugees drinking water, some food aid, and the necessary maintenance work for the tents, Mohammad said.

"The early rains caused flooding of tens of tents and their residents have been left under the open skies for a few days and have to take shelter at their relatives or friends in other camps," Mohammad added.

Meanwhile, an aid worker who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity said "we have received tens of calls asking for help because their tents were submerged and mud is surrounding them from all sides."

He added "our capabilities are limited and we could not respond to all the calls... The rains have affected many camps and turned them into swamps."

In one of the randomly erected camps in the port city of Tripoli, displaced Syrian Khaled el-Saeed told Xinhua that "we are living here on our own responsibility... An Islamic charity rented the land and the UNHCR provided us with the tents which we erected by ourselves."

"We woke up with water flooding our tents... No one helps us... We can only stay under the open skies," al-Saeed said.

"Many displaced families are still staying at their relatives or friends awaiting repairing their tents, while those who have no relatives were back despite damages to their tents," al-Saeed said.

"It will snow in coming days, which will be a disaster for the displaced considering the tents' current conditions," al-Saeed added.

Lebanon hosts more than 1.1 million displaced Syrian who fled their country since the beginning of Syrian crisis in 2011.

The Lebanese authorities are unable to provide all the refugees with their basic needs and have appealed to the international community for help.

Despite many pledges, less than 25 percent of the allocated sums have been delivered. Endit