The storm in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria is wreaking havoc on the entire population, putting the lives of the most vulnerable at risk

Heavy snowfall puts the lives of thousands of refugees at risk

photo_camera REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI - Internally displaced children stand in the snow near tents in a makeshift camp in Azaz, Syria

The damage caused in the cities of the three countries most affected by this snowstorm - Lebanon, Jordan and Syria - is unprecedented. More and more regions of the Middle East have been completely cut off from power and roads have been completely blocked, making it impossible for citizens to move around. The Syrian News Agency has released pictures and videos of different cities where people are unable to go out because of the heavy snow, including the rural areas of Tartous and Hama. 

The heavy snowfall began on Wednesday in Syria, and the General Directorate of Meteorology says that the gradual cessation of precipitation could begin throughout the day on Saturday. The current situation throughout the country is having a devastating effect on the refugee and displaced population. Those located in the border area - specifically in Aleppo, in the north of the country - are the ones who are suffering the most from the consequences of this storm, leaving thousands of tents destroyed, something that has been happening since the beginning of the winter season. Added to this is the added difficulty of getting the vaccine to all these people. The logistical organisation planned to deliver all the necessary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine has collapsed, so the government is already looking for alternatives and assumes that, inevitably, it will have to face a significant delay in its immunisation strategy. 

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In Lebanon, the situation is not much more hopeful. The power outage in the country has spread to the entire country, including the capital Beirut. According to the Lebanese News Agency, utilities are working tirelessly to restore power as soon as possible. In addition, they report that several people have had to be rescued from their vehicles in mountainous areas after being trapped in their cars. 

One of the areas that is suffering the most is the city of Arsal, located in northeastern Lebanon, one of the regions with the highest concentration of refugees in the whole country. The difficult situation caused by the snowfall is exacerbated by the living conditions of the refugees there. They have little in the way of basic necessities and a shortage of heating materials leaves them helpless in the face of the severe weather in the Middle East. What's more, a recently published UN study indicates that 9 out of 10 Syrian refugee families live in a much worse situation than is shown, being below the extreme poverty line. 

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Jordan is another country that is suffering most from the consequences of the snowfall. However, Transport Minister Marwan al-Khaitan warns of the dangers that may still lie ahead and that people should be alert to "the danger of flooding in low-lying areas as a result of the snow melt on Friday and Saturday". It is the worst snowfall in five years and, as in Lebanon, the authorities say in an official statement that despite intensive rescue efforts, calls and reports are still coming in from citizens who remain trapped in their vehicles because of the snow. 

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The governments of the three countries have asked their people not to leave their homes unless they are on vital journeys. The risk of landslides will increase as the snow begins to thaw and they are urging caution in a situation that they say could continue to have serious consequences as it passes through Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

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