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MENA Observatory – Lebanon
A study published by the United Nations revealed that nine out of ten Syrian refugee families are living in extreme poverty in Lebanon due to accelerating economic collapse in light of the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
The results of the study carried out by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Program and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) confirmed that “the economic recession, high inflation, the outbreak of Covid-19 epidemic and eventually the Beirut explosion have pushed Lebanon’s vulnerable communities, including Syrian refugees, to the brink. “.
The number of Syrians living in Lebanon is estimated at 1.5 million refugees on its territory, one million of whom are registered with the High Commissioner for Refugees and live in difficult humanitarian conditions.
Furthermore, the representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, “Mirai Gera” R., said: “The situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has been deteriorating for years, but the results of this year’s study are an dramatic indication of how difficult it is for them to survive and survive. ” He explained that “the refugees today face the most difficult winter for them to date in Lebanon, with scarce resources that are not enough for them to enjoy warmth and safety.”
The study indicated that “the percentage of Syrian refugee families now living below the extreme poverty line reached 89% in 2020 compared to 55% last year, and as these families live on less than 308,728 Lebanese pounds per person per month, equivalent to 205 dollars depending on the price. The official change and about 38 dollars according to the black market rate.
The organizations also clarified in a statement that “nine out of ten Syrian refugee families in Lebanon currently live in extreme poverty, and the debts accumulated with refugees in Lebanon have increased by 18% to buy food.
According to the study, the prices of food products in Lebanon have increased “almost three times since October” / October 2019, that is, an increase of around 174%, and half of the Syrian families surveyed are food insecure compared to 28% in 2019, while they also doubled. Number of families that depend on inadequate diets, from 25% in 2019 to 49% in 2020
It should be noted that more than half of Lebanon’s population lives below the poverty line, with tens of thousands of people losing their jobs or sources of income, and their purchasing power declines with the deterioration of the currency exchange rate. Lebanese pound and rising food prices.
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