Syrian refugees camped out in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and Gaza want nothing more than an end to the conflict in their home country and the havoc being caused by the Islamic State (ISIS). But they also desperately need some respite from the cold and the snow.
While any end to the ongoing conflict remains uncertain, Christian Aid has wasted no time in helping out the thousands of refugees by providing them with stoves and blankets.
Christian Aid has allocated emergency funds to provide sheets and blankets for 6,000 people living in temporary homes in Gaza, as well as stoves and fuel for 4,600 displaced people in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley in order for them to survive the harsh living conditions.
Humanitarian efforts have been working double time to extend aid to the refugees, especially after unexpected snowstorm Zina ripped through the camps and killed four Syrian refugees last week, according to Newsweek.
But hundreds of thousands of people still need help.
"The current situation remains precarious for the displaced populations, particularly given the extremely poor conditions in which they already live," said Euan Crawshaw, Christian Aid's Regional Emergency Manager for the Middle East.
"With the threat of further severe winter weather in the coming weeks, Christian Aid is delivering vital assistance through local partners on the ground in Gaza and Lebanon.We have worked as fast as possible to distribute blankets, plastic sheeting, stoves and fuel to more than ten thousand people."
Reuters reported that many refugees are only living in makeshift homes comprised of wood and plastic sheets taken from billboards. And with limited materials, people are doing everything they can to keep warm.
"There are people here with no heating, some burning shoes and even tent materials to keep warm," Ali Abdulaziz told Reuters. He expressed concern that the smoke from fires fueled with synthetic materials had made refugees sick.
Abudlaziz, who escaped from Damascus to Lebanon last April also claimed that neither the government nor the opposition fighters have done anything to alleviate their situation.
Christian Aid said that there are over 1.3 million refugees still at risk from extreme weather conditions from the Syrian conflict in Lebanon, while there are still more than 100,000 displaced people in Gaza due to the Israeli offensive last year.
