'Real risk' of refugees freezing to death in Syria after rains destroy shelters

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian


As temperatures fall, aid workers warn of danger to at least 11,000 people across Idlib, with storms also battering camps in Lebanon

Rebecca Ratcliffe
Sat 12 Jan 2019 02.00 EST Last modified on Sat 12 Jan 2019 02.02 EST

At least 11,000 child refugees and their families are facing a weekend of freezing temperatures with no shelter, after torrential rains across Syria’s Idlib province swept away tents and belongings.

Aid workers warn there is a real risk people will simply freeze to death as temperatures have already dropped to -1C, amid a shortage of blankets and heating fuel.

The shelters of Syrian refugees inside Lebanon have also been battered by high winds, rain and snow this week, according to UNHCR, which says 361 sites have been affected.

Camps in the border town of Arsal have been buried in snow, while settlements in the central and west Bekaa areas, where there has been heavy flooding, have experienced even worse damage. It is forecast that rains will begin again on Sunday.


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/12/real-risk-of-refugees-freezing-to-death-in-syria-after-rains-destroy-shelters

[Igel]

1. Sad.

It's also between people's favorite new dictator, Erdogan, and Assad.

Perhaps if the two could figure out how to restore order to the area it would go better. Or perhaps all the refugees Turkey's managing to keep from its "shores" could find a more permanent place to go to. Much of "home" is actually free of fighting; now they just fear fear itself.

Then again, many are with groups in the area that Erdogan says he despises but is sheltering, so there's that.