Caritas Lebanon fears many Syrian refugees could perish in cold
December 17, 2013 - With a winter turning exceptionally harsh, Caritas Lebanon is
fearing thousands of Syrian refugees will perish in the freezing cold. Fr. Simon
Faddoul, president of Caritas Lebanon said that the situation in eastern Lebanon’s
Bekaa Valley is terrible with some 430 makeshift camps.. "Many people are dying because
of the exceptionally cold weather,” he said, adding refugees have only tents and shacks
to protect themselves from the cold and the snow. Currently, the more than 800,000
Syrian refugees stranded in camps on the border with Syria are having to cope with
Alexa, an intense storm that has battered the Middle East with snow and rain, causing
whiteout conditions and floods across the region. Fr. Faddoul said that together
with other non-governmental organizations and the United Nations, Caritas has tried
to help refugees. He said in recent weeks, Caritas has handed out thousands of blankets,
mattresses, kerosene heaters, winter clothing, plastic sheeting and fuel coupons in
the hope of averting the worst, but their efforts are not enough. “There is a daily
exodus from Syria and the number of people who cross the border is now huge," he said,
urging Western countries and all Christians to send money and aid to the Syrian people.
(Source: AsiaNews)