Lebanon: Some Syrian refugees resort to begging for survival

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Hafiza has been staying with relatives since she arrived to Lebanon from Damascus 15 days ago. But her husband is sick, and she has no way to make money but to beg. Cradling her young daughter, Hafiza sits on the sidewalk in Hamra, Ras Beirut’s major thoroughfare.

People begging have long been a common sight in the neighborhood, with many, especially children, gathering in Hamra’s busiest areas to ask for money or to sell roses. Many of these are widely believed to be managed by gangs, their profits taken from them at the end of the day.

But there is a growing Syrian refugee presence among the area’s beggars, children and adults unable to support themselves any other way.

Hafiza and her family have been staying with relatives near Cite Sportive in Beirut since fleeing the Sayyida Zeinab area of the Syrian capital just over two weeks ago. She has seven children to support, and her youngest Eman, who is two and a half, has had a high fever for two days now.

“We have received no aid: I wouldn’t know where to get it? Where would we go?” Hafiza, 38, asks.

“I have no money to buy my daughter medicine.”

Hafiza says that the Lebanese have been kind and generous since her arrival. On a busy Thursday evening, however, when the street is teeming with people, very few have stopped to talk to her or give her money, except when she is struggling to wake up Eman, and nearby shopkeepers bring her water and tissues.

The U.N. and partners are currently providing aid to over 35,000 Syrian refugees across the country, but the real total is thought to be far higher, possibly around 90,000, as so many have not formally registered with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

The vast majority of displaced Syrians are residing in north Lebanon or in the Bekaa, either with relatives, host families or in abandoned buildings renovated by charities. But as numbers have increased and the uprising in Syria has drawn on, more and more are coming to Beirut and the suburbs.

Raghda Serhal, sitting at a pavement cafe, says that while the majority of child beggars in the neighborhood have always been Syrian – alongside a handful of Turks, Lebanese and Palestinians – the overall number, and proportion, of Syrians is increasing.

She often chats with the children in the area and believes that “before, the Syrian children used to go back in the fall to go back to school, and their parents would bring them back to Lebanon to work in the summer. But this year, because of the situation in Syria, they have not gone back, and have remained in Lebanon.”

Sitting at another cafe nearby, Moussa al-Hajj also says he has noticed an increase in Syrian beggars in the area. While he believes the Lebanese government should be doing more to help them, he also questions the role of aid organizations.

“There are hundreds of nongovernmental organizations in Lebanon, where are they? Many of them simply do nothing.”

The government’s Higher Relief Committee – the emergencies body which had been working alongside the UNHCR to register refugees, fund medical care and distribute aid – announced last month that it would have to cease assistance to refugees, due to a lack of funds. However Cabinet announced Thursday a LL2 billion loan to the HRC, although it is not yet clear when this will kick in.

Hafiza was not aware of the UNHCR office, which is situated in Ramlet al-Baida in Beirut, but Dana Sleiman, UNHCR’s spokesperson in Beirut, tells The Daily Star that “We are known to be here, that’s how all refugees find us.”

However, she adds, the agency is working on highlighting the existence, and work, of the UNHCR.

“We are trying to conduct awareness campaigns in the field, and that would include Beirut,” she says.

Further down the street, Zeinab, 12, and her brothers Yusef, 7, and Mohammad, 6, are approaching passersby for money. “We are refugees,” they say.

The children live with relatives in Nabaa, and arrived recently from Aleppo in Syria, but Zeinab is not exactly sure when.

“Our school is gone and our house is gone,” she says.

The focus of fighting between rebels and regime forces has centered on Syria’s biggest city for the past two weeks now, with heavy shelling and casualties reported near daily.

In torn clothing, Yusef says that the Lebanese “have been treating us well and giving us money.” His younger brother adds, “God willing, we can go home soon, and go back to school.”

The Daily Star

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17 responses to “Lebanon: Some Syrian refugees resort to begging for survival”

  1. breakthemould Avatar
    breakthemould

    shame on all Arabs of all religions and political persuasions. From working Palestinians, to immigrant wealthy Syrians, and Gulf Arabs. Shame on all. Not Governments. You know why? because our governments we all know are incompetent. But our wealthy businessmen are world class in getting on with the job and are for sure capable of doing something which will work. I hope a way is found for some one to lead them into doing this. So, that we do not have fellow citizens in such a state.

    1. Constantin7 Avatar
      Constantin7

      I agree with you completely. Hariri and Mikati, both very well known BILLIONNAIRES, can’t they donate a couple of million dollars to shelter and feed these refugees ? Here I gave an example of 2 people only, and there are hundreds like them in the Arab world, without counting the Gulf and Saudi governments who are fuelling this war in Syria against the tyrant Assad. So shouldn’t they pay the cost of this tragedy and help these refugees.

      1. How about Hariri and mikati help their own first…….??

  2. breakthemould Avatar
    breakthemould

    shame on all Arabs of all religions and political persuasions. From working Palestinians, to immigrant wealthy Syrians, and Gulf Arabs. Shame on all. Not Governments. You know why? because our governments we all know are incompetent. But our wealthy businessmen are world class in getting on with the job and are for sure capable of doing something which will work. I hope a way is found for some one to lead them into doing this. So, that we do not have fellow citizens in such a state.

    1. Constantin7 Avatar
      Constantin7

      I agree with you completely. Hariri and Mikati, both very well known BILLIONNAIRES, can’t they donate a couple of million dollars to shelter and feed these refugees ? Here I gave an example of 2 people only, and there are hundreds like them in the Arab world, without counting the Gulf and Saudi governments who are fuelling this war in Syria against the tyrant Assad. So shouldn’t they pay the cost of this tragedy and help these refugees.

      1. How about Hariri and mikati help their own first…….??

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    “… as so many have not formally registered …”
    This a huge problem as it shows the distrust of the people that governments, generally, will help any – even if the UN relief is there. And it is not a new thing only by the refugees afraid that they might be taken back to be killed. 
    Begging – even that not run by gangs – is almost an occupation in itself in countries with no viable aid solutions . But the refugees – new to the concept and not privy to the information they SHOULD have from the moment they step over the border – have a rough time competing in a dwindling economy where many are out of work already. Those who have been taken in by friends or family SHOULD also be registered, as they become a huge burden on those who try to help them. They should know at least where to get some help for the group which lives together.
     But that is the reason for the ‘Aid Camps’ which should have been set up – but were not in Lebanon due to the FEAR of helping those running from ‘Assad&Shabiha Co’. Aid Camps are central places where food and health issues can be addressed in a co-ordinated way. And the burden of one country is shared by the world – not only input by those few who struggle to make ends meet in the first place.
    A government which is full of the FEAR that doing something for a suffering humanity by way of help with food and medicine might somehow show support for a particular ‘side’, not only fails humanity but fails it’s own citizens by subjecting them to the inevitable stream of slowly dying street-people begging for just enough to meet a next day.
    Everyone coming over that border should be handed a folder of information about ‘help’. And the help should be there.

    1. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

      I have not gone into it. But, I think Jordan and Turkey do it better. Some people are better organised than others in terms of looking after their poor. The Ismailis do it well. See Agha Khan. The Jews do it well too. Years and years ago I saw a headline in a Jordanian paper (in the 1950’s) which said Koonoo Yahoodan. It strikes me till now. And I think if we copy them we don’t go wrong. There is a school in East Jerusalem for kids without decent desks or heating or equipment and it is falling to bits. If it rains the water falls on top of the heads of the kids and there are no toilets. If this was a Jewish school in West Jerusalem, the Jews of NY would rush to pay and make it look like a 5 star hotel. Why not us too. We have them millionaires and billionaires, so we are not short of money. Or I dare say good will, we are short of awareness and organization.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        And too short of ‘desire’.

  4. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    “… as so many have not formally registered …”
    This a huge problem as it shows the distrust of the people that governments, generally, will help any – even if the UN relief is there. And it is not a new thing only by the refugees afraid that they might be taken back to be killed. 
    Begging – even that not run by gangs – is almost an occupation in itself in countries with no viable aid solutions . But the refugees – new to the concept and not privy to the information they SHOULD have from the moment they step over the border – have a rough time competing in a dwindling economy where many are out of work already. Those who have been taken in by friends or family SHOULD also be registered, as they become a huge burden on those who try to help them. They should know at least where to get some help for the group which lives together.
     But that is the reason for the ‘Aid Camps’ which should have been set up – but were not in Lebanon due to the FEAR of helping those running from ‘Assad&Shabiha Co’. Aid Camps are central places where food and health issues can be addressed in a co-ordinated way. And the burden of one country is shared by the world – not only input by those few who struggle to make ends meet in the first place.
    A government which is full of the FEAR that doing something for a suffering humanity by way of help with food and medicine might somehow show support for a particular ‘side’, not only fails humanity but fails it’s own citizens by subjecting them to the inevitable stream of slowly dying street-people begging for just enough to meet a next day.
    Everyone coming over that border should be handed a folder of information about ‘help’. And the help should be there.

  5. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    “… as so many have not formally registered …”
    This a huge problem as it shows the distrust of the people that governments, generally, will help any – even if the UN relief is there. And it is not a new thing only by the refugees afraid that they might be taken back to be killed. 
    Begging – even that not run by gangs – is almost an occupation in itself in countries with no viable aid solutions . But the refugees – new to the concept and not privy to the information they SHOULD have from the moment they step over the border – have a rough time competing in a dwindling economy where many are out of work already. Those who have been taken in by friends or family SHOULD also be registered, as they become a huge burden on those who try to help them. They should know at least where to get some help for the group.
     But that is the reason for the ‘Aid Camps’ which should have been set up – but were not in Lebanon due to the FEAR of helping those running from ‘Assad&Shabiha Co’. Aid Camps are central places where food and health issues can be addressed in a co-ordinated way. And the burden of one country is shared by the world – not only input by those few who struggle to make ends meet in the first place.
    A government which is full of the FEAR that doing something for a suffering humanity by way of help with food and medicine might somehow show support for a particular ‘side’, not only fails humanity but fails it’s own citizens by subjecting them to the inevitable stream of slowly dying street-people begging for just enough to meet a next day.
    Everyone coming over that border should be handed a folder of information about ‘help’. And the help should be there.

    1. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

      I have not gone into it. But, I think Jordan and Turkey do it better. Some people are better organised than others in terms of looking after their poor. The Ismailis do it well. See Agha Khan. The Jews do it well too. Years and years ago I saw a headline in a Jordanian paper (in the 1950’s) which said Koonoo Yahoodan. It strikes me till now. And I think if we copy them we don’t go wrong. There is a school in East Jerusalem for kids without decent desks or heating or equipment and it is falling to bits. If it rains the water falls on top of the heads of the kids and there are no toilets. If this was a Jewish school in West Jerusalem, the Jews of NY would rush to pay and make it look like a 5 star hotel. Why not us too. We have them millionaires and billionaires, so we are not short of money. Or I dare say good will, we are short of awareness and organization.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        And too short of ‘desire’.

  6. all the help thats coming by large containers of medicens and food from oversease to the syrians is ceased by hezboshytan and kirri security in the port or iranian beirut and sold in the black market and the puftti is watching and doing nothing… its time for another independent this time from the faqihi irani cancer…

  7. all the help thats coming by large containers of medicens and food from oversease to the syrians is ceased by hezboshytan and kirri security in the port or iranian beirut and sold in the black market and the puftti is watching and doing nothing… its time for another independent this time from the faqihi irani cancer…

  8. Patience2 Avatar
    Patience2

    Do you expect the Hezzbians to offer them help through ‘their’ government of Lebanon?  It’s up to each person and what’s in their heart.

  9. Patience2 Avatar
    Patience2

    Do you expect the Hezzbians to offer them help through ‘their’ government of Lebanon?  It’s up to each person and what’s in their heart.

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