UN calls for support for Syrian refugees in Lebanon
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – UN agencies called on Friday for providing permanent support for vulnerable people, especially Syrian refugees in Lebanon, in light of miserable living conditions in the country.
UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) conducted a preliminary finding of the 2022 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR).
The assessment is the 10th annual survey that is assessing the situation of a representative sample of 5.090 Syrian refugees in Lebanon and it provides information about the current situation of vulnerable Syrian refugees in the country.
The assessment revealed that living conditions for all Syrian refugees are deteriorating, as most of them do not have even basic needs.
The number of Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon is approximately 1.5 million, about 900.000 of whom are registered at the UNHCR.
90% of Syrian refugees need humanitarian support to survive, according to the assessment.
Abdullah al-Wardat, WFP Representative and Country Director in Lebanon said, “The levels of food security for refugees in Lebanon are extremely worrisome.”
The 2022 VASyR revealed that most refugee families have accumulated high debt, as most of them borrow money to offer food.
“UNHCR and partners continue to support the most vulnerable refugees with humanitarian assistance,” said Ayaki Ito, UNHCR Representative in Lebanon. “But this is far from enough.”
“Children are growing without enough food, without proper access to healthcare and education,” said UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Edouard Beigbeder.
On Oct. 12, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the process of returning Syrians to their homeland will begin next week in the framework of a plan that had been previously considered.