* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Lebanon is staring to buckle under pressure the increased population is placing on infrastructure, services
Living and working in Lebanon, I can see first-hand how the situation is deteriorating week by week in the absence of a political solution to the Syrian war. Tensions are rising between Syrians and Lebanese communities as refugee numbers continue to increase. The current refugee situation is unprecedented in scale. More than 3 million refugees have fled Syria to neighbouring countries, including Lebanon. Eighty percent of these refugees are women and children. Women and girls have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis in Syria. Twenty-seven percent of the female refugee population are under 18 years of age. Gender based violence, including early marriage, has significantly increased.
The sheer scale of the humanitarian situation is immense. Statistics like these give scale, but do not reveal the reality of the human suffering beneath the numbers. Every day there is renewed violence and pain. This is exacerbated by the proliferation of armed groups and the subsequent shrinking of humanitarian space.
The needs of refugees and those affected by the war for support and assistance are increasing. Winter is fast approaching and many will struggle to keep their families safe and warm during the freezing conditions. There is not enough shelter available and many refugee families are living in poorly-constructed buildings and tents without proper roofing or access to water and sanitation.
The refugees I meet here in Lebanon did not want to come here. Many families would have lived happily in a comfortable house with running water and electricity before the war. Their daily lives would have consisted of normal activities such as commuting to work, socialising with friends, caring for family. When the war came they were forced to flee. Some of the same families will soon be struggling to survive under plastic sheeting in sub-zero temperatures. This horrific situation cannot be allowed to continue.
Neighbouring countries have been exceedingly generous in accepting Syrian refugees. Lebanon in particular has welcomed refugees with open arms and is now hosting over one million refugees, increasing their national population by a quarter. This is the largest per capita refugee population in the world.
This cannot continue forever. Lebanon is beginning to buckle under the immense pressure that the increased population is placing on infrastructure and services. The majority of refugees do not live in designated refugee sites but live alongside the local population, and therefore rely on the same services and supplies. Tensions are rising between Syrian refugees and the host communities, who themselves had been suffering from endemic poverty. Resources are becoming increasingly scarce and there are simply not enough jobs, health services or school places for all who need them. This situation is simply untenable.
The Lebanese border has recently been closed to Syrian refugees. What will happen to the vulnerable Syrians who arrive at the border and are turned away? Where will they go? Where will they find safety for their families?
International efforts to help ease the burden of the refugee crisis are simply not enough. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has repeatedly urged EU members to open the doors to Syrian refugees. He noted in January of this year that Turkey alone has received 10 times the number of Syrian refugees received by all EU member states together.
This situation urgently needs tangible and long-term solutions.
The first priority must be to work towards a political solution to bring an end to the Syrian war. The international community has turned its back on this task, with some states continuing to deliver shipments of arms, artillery and aircraft to the warring parties. These weapons are used to continue war crimes and human rights violations against innocent civilians. We need a comprehensive and inclusive strategy to stop the fighting and all countries have to stop fuelling the ongoing war.
If the current situation continues, we are facing a collapse of the entire region. This will have global consequences with a surge in conflict, human displacement and poverty. Countries that are financing and supporting the conflict must stop. It is vital that influential states and backers prioritise forging a viable political solution to the conflict.
Despite the increasing needs of refugees, funding is inadequate. The 2014 appeal for Syria is less 50 percent funded. Until a political solution is reached it is essential that we continue providing relief and assistance to those affected by the atrocities. This cannot happen if the money is not made available to help those suffering from the conflict.
Today I am attending the Berlin Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation – Supporting Stability in the Region. This will bring together 20 Foreign Ministers and 10 international organisations to discuss our collective response to adequately support the refugees who have fled Syria. The conference will reaffirm the responsibility of the international community to respond to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. It is also a strong signal that we stand in solidarity with Syrian refugees.
Organisations such as Concern Worldwide can help meet some of the humanitarian needs of refugees in the region, but the only sustainable solution is a political one. The underlying causes of the ongoing conflict must be addressed. With an estimated 3 million Syrian refugees globally and the ongoing violence in Syria, it is imperative we work together now to find a lasting and viable political solution.
Elke Leidel is country director of Concern Worldwide Lebanon
