Syrian refugees at Lebanon

Transcript:

The new year brought with it cold bitter weather.
Thousands of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon woke up to snow and strong winds, making their bad situation worst.
Abu Hamada struggles to keep the whole family warm. He fled Aleppo with his wife and eight of their ten children two years ago. When his two daughters lost their husbands in the war, they both followed with their children. Fifteen of them now live in one tent and winter is more than a struggle.

" We prepared but we didn't expect to be spending this much money on fuel. Before the girls and their children came, we would put the heater on for 3 or 4 hours a day, but now it has to be on all day. They are young. If one of them got sick, it would cost two tanks of fuel."

Across the camp many refugees live in tents and unfinished buildings. Aid agencies distribute fuel and shelter reinforcement months ahead of winter, but bad weather can damage tense and call settlements to flood.

"The number of year that refugees have stayed here means that they are facing increased vulnerabilities. All of their savings have been depleted and many have moved into the settlements because they are cheaper than living in flats or apartments in town. They are not used to these conditions and it is practically impossible to find a job and therefore, they have no income and are totally reliant on resources from humanitarian agencies."

Nawal is one of Abu Hamada`s daughters. She fled to Lebanon with her 3 children after their parents did:

"What's important to me is to keep my children away from death. We can handle the cold. It's easier than death, barrel bombs and shelling"

Another year ends and this family, like many others, are far from going home. They brave yet another winter, but hope it would be their last.