Abou Faour Voices Concern over Conditions of Syrian Refugees during Winter

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Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour expressed fear on Wednesday over the “disastrous” conditions of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon amid the winter storm hitting the country.

“We are incapable, the ministry is working through international associations to aid the refugees,” Abou Faour said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

He pointed out that the reasons behind the state's paralysis is due to the “absence of any unified political decision to establish formal camps for the refugees.”

Abou Faour warned that the “frosting will take the lives of people and the state can do nothing about it.”

“All we can do is lessen the catastrophe and not confront it,” the caretaker Minister added.

He said that the ministry kicked off a campaign in coordination with NGOs to provide the refugees with cloths, winter supplies and heaters,” Abou Faour said.

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR spokeswomen Lisa Abou Khaled said there were concerns for thousands of people living in more than 200 informal camps in central and north Lebanon.

"We are worried, because it is really cold in the Bekaa region, and we're extremely worried about the refugees living in makeshift shelters, because many are really substandard," she said.

Despite the conditions, refugees were continuing to arrive, including a group of 10 families fleeing the Syrian town of Yabrud in the Qalamoun region north of Damascus.

More than 835,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Lebanon, although the real number is thought to total more than one million.

Thousands live in makeshift camps, in shelters made of little more than plastic sheeting nailed to wooden frames.

Others are living in unfinished buildings with only slightly more protection from the elements in cities including Beirut.

Comments 8
Thumb cedars2 12 December 2013, 09:05

Hahaha!!

Thumb cedars2 12 December 2013, 09:05

Good morning ya Abou Faour!! Sah el nowm!!!

Thumb ice-man 12 December 2013, 09:38

(ice-man goes all red in the face and thanks @tigerali for the compliment)

Thumb ice-man 12 December 2013, 10:11

@tigerali.... i just wish I had more thumbs to vote you up. Next time, please let us know which alias you are using so i can save my vote for you.

Thumb cedars2 12 December 2013, 10:07

My brother tiger, they can warn all they like but he warned and it still happened, its the story of our beautiful Lebanon run by corrupt mafias.
Nukta al sater.

Thumb benzona 12 December 2013, 15:34

each lebanese who's got a maid/slave should take in a syrian family to compensate for their sins.

Thumb benzona 12 December 2013, 17:13

I don't live in France, never did never will.... i can't stand french mentality. simply because I use french words such as 'artisanat' for you to understand doesn't mean my mother tongue is French. lol you're so judgmental yet you accuse me of being one. I do believe anyone who's got room for a slave should have room for homeless refugee. OR the government should heavily tax maid owners and use the money to provide temporary shelters and food.

btw, I'm Beiruti, why do you visualise an empty home in Saida? and yes... i pay my EDL bills..... even the monthly 7500 LL during winter time, can your friends say the same? If i were living there, i'd definitely take in a couple of families with me. they need more than shelters, they need food.

Thumb cedars2 12 December 2013, 18:27

.... The breeder of hate and loathing, just like your masters