Syrian refugees in Lebanon to face tough winter amid cuts in aid

The Syrian refugees in Lebanon, who are already under harsh living conditions, are preparing to face an expected tough winter season amid high cuts in aid that used to be provided by the international governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations.

In north Lebanon, about 260,000 out of 350,000 Syrian refugees are registered officially with the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and live in rented apartments or have erected random camps that are not recognized by the Lebanese authorities.

Khaled el-Abed, a 40-year-old Syrian man, fled his devastated hometown of Homs with his wife and three children and lives in a tent he erected in the Minieh town, 10 km to the north of the port city of Tripoli.

"We are living in very tough conditions and nobody is caring about us anymore," el-Abed told Xinhua.

"It turned out to be a conspiracy against our country and against us led by the United States and other powers aimed at settling personal accounts and interests," he said.

Fatima el-Khalil, who were displaced from al-Hassaka, said "we are now facing the harshest living conditions. We are receiving no aid and we suffered a lot two weeks ago when it rained and our tents were flooded."

"We want to return to our homes in Syria because what we are facing here is a slow death. We could face a danger in Syria, but even though it would be better for us. The countries that are caring for us must work to take us back to our homes and put an end to the war," she said.

In south Lebanon, Syrian refugees rush in the early morning to the plains and olive fields to gather the firewood piles left by the local farmers for the heating fuel.

Ahmad al-Moghrabi, a Syrian who were displaced from the devastated city of Idlib, told Xinhua that he managed with his four children and his pregnant wife to collect a firewood pile which can only be used for two weeks.

He said what he needs in firewood and fuel oil for heating costs more than 1,000 U.S. dollars, "and this is beyond the capability of any refugee."

The same goes for Emily Zoueihed, who were displaced from the Damascus neighborhoods, as she explained to Xinhua that what she managed to collect with her six children were firewood sticks, so she can use them to heat the tent that is vulnerable to the winter winds and rain.

According to the UNHCR, Lebanon hosts more than 1.1 million Syrian refugees who fled their war-torn country since the beginning of the uprising against the regime of President Bashar Assad in March 2011.

The UNHCR launched earlier this week a regional winter campaign to protect the most vulnerable refugee families in Lebanon and other neighboring countries from a possible repeat of 2014 winter storms. Endit