The plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon: 3 quarters living under poverty line, says UNHCR

Source: Xinhua| 2019-07-28 22:34:07|Editor: huaxia
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The family of Ahmad Abbas, a refugee in his 60s who came from Baba Amr in Homs in central Syria, sit together in a rented apartment in Ketermaya, southeast of Beirut, Lebanon, March 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

The Syrian refugees in Lebanon are in a plight which may need all our attention.

BEIRUT, July 28 (Xinhua) -- How difficult is life for Syrian refugees in Lebanon? The Spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Lisa Abou Khaled said that three quarters of them live under the poverty line, local newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Sunday.

"Three quarters of Syrian refugees live under the poverty line in Lebanon while 51 percent of them live under extreme poverty line, which is less than 3 U.S. dollars per day," Abou Khaled said.

Ahmad Abbas, a refugee in his 60s who came from Baba Amr in Homs in central Syria, buys vegetables in Ketermaya, southeast of Beirut, Lebanon, March 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Abou Khaled added that less than half of these people receive food support valued at 27 dollars for each family member per month while 19 percent get another financial support of 175 dollars monthly for the whole family.

Abou Khaled noted that most Syrians in Lebanon borrow money to be able to cover their needs, including housing, food and medication.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced earlier this month that the number of Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon is no less than 1.6 million even after the return of 318,000 to their homeland.

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