SYRIAN REFUGEES IN LEBANON- THE IMPACTS AT THE DESTINATION
1.
Syria: three million tragedies
- Lebanon: 115 refuges per hour. - Lebanon hosts about 39% of Syrian refugees. Today, Lebanon has more refugees per capita than any other country in the world, with Syrians making up about one quarter of its total populations - Some 67% of refugees in Lebanon rent basic apartment or homes, half of which are overcrowded with several families. Over 30% live in substandard conditions in makeshift shelters, tents, unfurnished buildings, garages, warehouses and worksites.
2. Lebanon anger grows over Syrian refugees
- As a result of the influx of Syrian refugees, about 1 in every 5 people in Lebanon is Syrian. - Many Syrians settle into poor, overcrowded districts where they live among the local population but cant escape the feelings of not being welcome. - Some Lebanese say their presence is also making living conditions worse for them by causing an increase in property prices. Refugees who cannot pay rent squat in buildings under construction. - Locals think the newcomers are taking jobs away from them. The new Syrian arrivals have created competition in already weak labour market. - Syrians have opened shops and accept lower salaries many Lebanese people resent them for this. - Bombings are kidnappings linked to the Syrian civil war has spilled over into Lebanon. Syrians have been looked upon as a security threat for Lebanon.
3. Syrians, Lebanese job competition adds to tension
- Lebanon: sharp drop in tourism - A tiny country with a weak central government - They dont pay taxes, they open shops illegally and they actually work at half the price of the Lebanese worker. - Its a volcano waiting to explode. - The violence has devastated the tourism sector. - Surge in demand for public services
4. Syria war, refugees to cost Lebanon $7.5 billion: World Bank
- It estimates that the war resulting wave of refugees into Lebanon will cut real DPA growth by 2.85 percent a year between 2012 to 2014, double unemployment to above 20 percent and widen the deeply indebted nation s deficit by 2.6 billion. - Lebanons biggest challenge comes from almost one million Syrians who have fled the fighting, burdening its health and education sectors and increasing demand for power in a country already suffering daily electricity cuts. - Before the crisis, 1 million Lebanese, or a quarter of the population, were classified as poordefined as living on less than $4 a day. Another 170,000 will be pushed into poverty while the existing poor will face deeper difficulty. - There is a lost generation of children as refugees escaping to countries as Lebanon are unable to receive basic schooling. Lebanon does not have enough resources to educate all the refugee children. TOMORROWS LESSON -