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Refugee influx strains Lebanese communities
27 February 2012

Ali Badawi, the Mayor of Rama village in Lebanon

Twenty-four Syrians crossed into Wadi Khaled in northern Lebanon in a single day last week, seeking refuge from the continuing violence in Syria. But with around 600 Syrians already staying with host families in Wadi Khaled, the mayor of one village is concerned about the strain it is putting on the local community.

Ali Badawi is the Mayor of Rama village in Wadi Khaled, northern Lebanon. He is currently hosting three families, a total of twenty people in his house.

“Lebanese families have shared their homes, food and clothes but this cannot continue forever,” Badawi explained. “The host families are burnt out and they cannot cope anymore; they need help too now.”

Syrians started fleeing to Wadi Khaled in May 2011, seeking refuge from violence in their country. Many of them came from Homs, sometimes on foot, and often through illegal crossings.

Syrians taking refuge in northern Syria were able to sustain themselves through the smuggling of supplies through the border. Increasingly heavy security at the border has stopped the flow of money and supplies, leaving those who managed to flee the country entirely dependent on their host communities.

Mayor Badawi described how in order to continue supporting the influx of Syrian refugees, host families are in need of need hygiene kits, nappies, baby milk, mattresses and kitchen utensils.
So far Islamic Relief has provided food, baby food and washing machines to Syrian families in northern Lebanon. We have been trying to enter southern Syria to deliver aid, but we have so far been unable to cross into Syria.

Moustafa Osman, Islamic Relief’s Head of Humanitarian and Emergency Response, has just returned from northern Lebanon. “It is heart-breaking to be minutes away from the Syrian border, where thousands of people are in need of support, and be unable to reach them.”

Islamic Relief welcomes attempts made by the International Red Cross to negotiate a smooth passage of aid into Syria, and is calling for urgent humanitarian access to civilian populations.

To donate to our Syria Appeal please click here.

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