Lebanon is going through a difficult time – unfortunately since a long time ago. The country has been characterized by political conflicts, a severe financial crisis, the corona pandemic and moreover the country took the most amount of refugees worldwide, estimated at 1.5 million.
The mediterranean state is shaped by informal settlements, in which the Syrian refugees live. Primitive tents made of plastic sheeting and wood, a dangerous-looking tangle of electrical cables, the floor littered with rubbish, and just next to it the clean clothes which are hanging on a rope to dry in the sun, which children use to play as well. Some of the children were born in the camp, some already in Syria. Rarely education is provided and if not at all, they work with their families in the household or on the field. Most of the Syrian refugees look into a difficult future. Some families have been waiting for five years to go to another place. Even the situation would allow them to return to Syria, most of them just can’t. The children who were born in Lebanon do not have a Syrian passport, but are registered in the country, therefore the parents stay in the country as well. Many of the parents also have their residence permit expired and cannot afford to have a new one issued as many live on two to three dollars a day. Many men are afraid of prison or others would also have to go into the military. against their will. Even if they get support from organisations, it is not enough, because most of them have to look mostly on their own how to survive and have their life back. With all mothers and fathers that I spoke, all of them said: ,, I only want that my children have a good and save life.’’ Those who still have the power, they fight for their children, even if they have to cross borders and try to come ’’illegally’’ to another country. Even though they went through terrible circumstances and life in terrible conditions, their hospitality, their kindness and their big heart left a deep impression on me and on many others.
