Feature: Olive harvest in south Lebanon golden opportunity for displaced Syrians

November marks the olive harvest season in south Lebanon, and field activity, planted with over four million olive trees, is remarkable.

Harvesting olives is a seasonal profession for over 200,000 displaced Syrians, who fled their war-torn country to south Lebanon.

The seasonal occupation provides refugees with some money to help them survive the cold temperatures during the winter season.

In the southern Lebanese plains of Marjeyoun, displaced from Idlib, Salwa al-Okaibi, heads to the olive fields, with her four children aged between eight and 15 years old, carrying medium-sized bags, some food and a gallon of water.

Al-Okaibi told Xinhua that she goes to the fields to collect olives grains left over by farmers on either the ground or the trees, pointing that "this is our source of income right now which helps us to survive, following the aid cuts by donor countries and agencies."

Adel Abou Ahmadi, displaced from Damascus, explained to Xinhua "whoever gathers left overs can sell one kilogram of olives for six U.S. dollars, and if lucky, collect enough grains to take to the olive press and sell a gallon of oil for 150 U.S. dollars."

Abou Ahmadi added "South Lebanese oil is known for its quality and is considered quite nutritious and is highly sought by the Lebanese, who try to buy it directly from the fields."

Displaced to the Lebanese southern town of Hasbaya, Jawhara al-Assli told Xinhua that "sweeping olive fields with my three children for eight hours a day is fun, easy and profitable."

Al-Assli added "we collect between 15 and 20 kilograms of olives daily which we sell to oil pressers for between 50 to 70 U.S. dollars."

Al-Assli stressed that "the olive season is both a source of joy and happiness for us, but it is too brief since it only lasts a few weeks."

As for Mohammad al-Mohammadi, displaced from Beit Jin, heading a group of 10 workers of close friends and relatives, he told Xinhua "we work as a team, hired by field owners for two months during the olive season. Male workers get paid 24 dollars whereas female workers are paid 20 dollars."

Al-Mohammadi highlighted "if not for Syrian workers, the Lebanese would be unable to harvest their olives as they lack Lebanese workers."

He added "it is a golden opportunity for us, and what we collect helps us survive the winter season when there is hardly any work available."

Samer al-Hajj, displaced from Idlib, told Xinhua "some displaced refugees work in the olive presses. For example, I work with nine Syrians in an olive press close to Hasbaya, earning 30 dollars a day for 10 hours of work."

He added "this is quite a rare opportunity and what I earn helps me buy heating fuel and food for my family."

According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, over 1.1 million Syrians fled to Lebanon since the uprising against President Bashar El Assad's regime started in 2011.

Most displaced Syrians endure quite harsh living conditions due to the aid cuts, which UN agencies and their non governmental organization partners used to provide. Endit