Syrian opposition urges UN to help refugees in Lebanon

By Ali Abo Rezeg

ANKARA

The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces has called on the UN to help Syrian refugees now facing harsh winter conditions in Lebanon.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, coalition chief Abdurrahman Mustafa asked the UN to provide more relief to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, especially those near the Lebanese border town of Arsal.

"The refugees are suffering dire humanitarian conditions because of the snowstorm that is battering the region," he said.

Since last Sunday, Lebanon has been hit with snowstorms endangering the lives of thousands of Syrian refugees living there.

“Living conditions in the refugee camps in and around Arsal are extremely dire,” Mustafa said. “Tents are shrouded in snow, heating fuel is scarce, and the roads are cut off.”

He went on to urge UN humanitarian agencies to “deliver urgent relief aid and provide medical care to those in need”.

According to Lebanese figures, roughly 1.5 million Syrian refugees still remain on Lebanese territory. The UN, for its part, puts the number at less than one million.