RACHAYA, Lebanon, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The increasing influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon is challenging the United Nations refugee agency and the Lebanese government along with their non- governmental partners.
Right before the coming winter, some Syrian refugees were evacuated from Lebanon's public schools, their temporary shelters in the summer, in preparation for the coming academic year.
Planning to move to Lebanese mountainous villages, most of them lying on 1,200 meters of altitude at least, the Syrian refugees, suffering from poverty, are uneasy about the lack of aid and necessary supplies, such as heating oil.
"How can I support my family of seven while we are barely able to survive?" Alian Ghadban, a Syrian refugee, said referring to the average monthly heating cost of 400 U.S. dollars for families living in the mountainous villages of Lebanon.
Ghadban called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to quickly act to find financial support to "help us confront the cold which is a real threat for our families."
Abou Ali Sejaan Al Hamed, one of the Syrian refugees living now in the Ain Ata village which lies at the foot of Mount Hermon, told Xinhua "we came from the Yarmouk Palestinian refugees camp near Damascus and we have experienced displacement before, but this phase is really the worst."
For her part, Samia Abou Alian complained that the aid provided by the UNHCR has shrink to the minimum level.
Meanwhile, Hussein Mahmoudi from Damascus said "the UNHRC gives promises but never live up to it, particularly the medical treatment and medicines."
According to the latest UNHRC report, Lebanon hosts some 65,000 Syrian refugees, among them some 19,000 registered in the Bekaa region alone.
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