Watch .. Watch reveals miserable conditions for Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Human Rights Watch revealed the harsh conditions that the Syrian refugees live in in the Lebanese town of Arsal, on the border with Syria, and said that they do not have adequate structures to shelter them during the harsh winter months.

More than 15,000 Syrian refugees in Arsal are facing their second winter since the issuance of a decision in 2019 by the Supreme Defense Council, headed by the President of the Republic and responsible for implementing the national defense strategy, to dismantle the structures that shelter them.

The decision forced them to live in miserable conditions, and forced them to endure harsh winter conditions, including sub-zero temperatures and floods.

"The living conditions of the Syrian refugees in Arsal, who were forced to dismantle their shelters in 2019, remain harsh," said Michel Randhawa, senior coordinator of refugee and migrant rights at Human Rights Watch. "Their conditions, in addition to movement restrictions to limit the outbreak of the Coronavirus, threaten their safety and lives."

Syrian refugees complained to the human rights organization of harsh weather conditions and inadequate construction materials due to heavy rains and floods, and 4 of them said that mold had formed on the wood used to rebuild the upper parts of their shelters.

Some reported that the mold caused health problems for children and relatives with asthma.

A Syrian refugee from Homs said that her daughter was coughing because of mold, adding, “[An NGO] gave us one shade to cover the roof, and we bought the rest by ourselves. We only have 5 concrete stones to protect, and what is left is wood. The water seeps from under the walls, and the stench smells. Of mold. "

Human Rights Watch urged the Lebanese government, donor organizations and governments to ensure the full protection of everyone's right to adequate housing, including providing enhanced support for the rehabilitation of Syrian refugee homes for the winter to protect vulnerable families from the weather, and to enable them to live in safety and dignity.

"In light of their lack of adequate housing, restrictions to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, and rampant inflation, Syrian refugees in Lebanon need assistance urgently, especially during these harsh months in winter," Rendhawa said.