Translation by Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian children in Lebanon are not in a better situation than others inside Syria, as they suffer of poverty and the need to work to afford for their families’ food and shelter.
Taha, 10 years old Syrian boy will spend his Eid in a mechanic workshop, dreams of spending even a day like other children, wearing Eid clothes and playing in the Eid square with his friends. However, his main priority now is securing money for his family’s food and home rent.
Taha came with his family to Lebanon from Homs city, is one of thousands of Syrian children working in shops, workshops, street vendors of beggars. They have forgotten Eid that turned into memories without taste.
Activist Mazen al-Khalaf, Head of the Syrian Association for Refugees Rights in Lebanon told Zaman Al Wasl: “Eid for Syrian refugees has become another reason reminding them of painful memories and stolen happiness”.
He added that hard living conditions have turned the Eid's happiness into an unreachable dream, even a piece of clothing can bring happiness to a child, even if it meant nothing to an adult.”
Al-Khalaf confirmed: “lack of organisation and transparency in the work of most associations and charitable bodies put children in front line to face poverty and the tragedy they were force to live in, they are forced to work or to beg, while Eid is only a dream crossing their minds”.
The activist mentioned that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees does not provide clothes neither in Eid nor other days, while other aid and relief bodies provide clothes at small level, while other civil organisations do not cover more than 10% of aid due to poor support.
Activist Mohammed al-Kassab said that Syrian children who live in Lebanon have not lost the feeling of Eid only, they have lost the taste of life and childhood's innocence, they turned into mature and adults and hold responsibility at young age to provide support and money to their parents.
Al-Kassab confirmed that 40% of children have joined work and many of them do hard work to help their parents, and Eids do not mean anything to them.
Al-Kassab mentioned that charitable people provide clothes at limited level but that is not enough to cover the need and bring smile to most children.
The activist mentioned that many charitable initiatives took place in Ramadan and Eid where they provide clothes to children like “Kon Aown” for dressing children and needy in Wadi Khalid, and the same association had organised initiative of “iftar Saem” which provided food for fasting people in Ramadan, and project of “Kiswet yatim” to clothe orphans.
There are 400 thousand child refugees in Lebanon, making 70% of all registered refugees in Lebanon, most of them live in the North of Lebanon and work in shops, workshops, or vendors and beggar in streets.
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian children in Lebanon are not in a better situation than others inside Syria, as they suffer of poverty and the need to work to afford for their families’ food and shelter.
Taha, 10 years old Syrian boy will spend his Eid in a mechanic workshop, dreams of spending even a day like other children, wearing Eid clothes and playing in the Eid square with his friends. However, his main priority now is securing money for his family’s food and home rent.
Taha came with his family to Lebanon from Homs city, is one of thousands of Syrian children working in shops, workshops, street vendors of beggars. They have forgotten Eid that turned into memories without taste.
Activist Mazen al-Khalaf, Head of the Syrian Association for Refugees Rights in Lebanon told Zaman Al Wasl: “Eid for Syrian refugees has become another reason reminding them of painful memories and stolen happiness”.
He added that hard living conditions have turned the Eid's happiness into an unreachable dream, even a piece of clothing can bring happiness to a child, even if it meant nothing to an adult.”
Al-Khalaf confirmed: “lack of organisation and transparency in the work of most associations and charitable bodies put children in front line to face poverty and the tragedy they were force to live in, they are forced to work or to beg, while Eid is only a dream crossing their minds”.
The activist mentioned that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees does not provide clothes neither in Eid nor other days, while other aid and relief bodies provide clothes at small level, while other civil organisations do not cover more than 10% of aid due to poor support.
Activist Mohammed al-Kassab said that Syrian children who live in Lebanon have not lost the feeling of Eid only, they have lost the taste of life and childhood's innocence, they turned into mature and adults and hold responsibility at young age to provide support and money to their parents.
Al-Kassab confirmed that 40% of children have joined work and many of them do hard work to help their parents, and Eids do not mean anything to them.
Al-Kassab mentioned that charitable people provide clothes at limited level but that is not enough to cover the need and bring smile to most children.
The activist mentioned that many charitable initiatives took place in Ramadan and Eid where they provide clothes to children like “Kon Aown” for dressing children and needy in Wadi Khalid, and the same association had organised initiative of “iftar Saem” which provided food for fasting people in Ramadan, and project of “Kiswet yatim” to clothe orphans.
There are 400 thousand child refugees in Lebanon, making 70% of all registered refugees in Lebanon, most of them live in the North of Lebanon and work in shops, workshops, or vendors and beggar in streets.
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