Baladi New – Arsal (Fadi Souni)
Due to its geographic position, Arsal, which is located in Beqaa region linking between the Syrian and Lebanese territories, accommodates a large number of Syrian refugees from Damascus countryside, Homs, and other areas.
However, the area was abandoned by its own people in the 1980s due to its barren mountainous nature, which left it uninvested.
This situation was reflected on the refugees who lack the most basic services, where each tent accommodates two or three families suffering for three years.
The rug lands and harsh environment make obtaining water very difficult, which causes the outbreak of diseases, particularly skin epidemics under high temperature conditions in summer. In such situations, taking a bath becomes a matter of luxury due to the scarcity of water.
Abu Sulaiman, a refugee in Beqaa, said to Baladi News “Water is what we miss the most. Our children hardly take baths, which subjects them do diseases. If anyone needs water, they have to walk 500 meters to fill one container.”
Some humanitarian organizations, including those affiliated with the UN, seek to mitigate the sufferings of refugees. Meanwhile, refugees in other camps pay USD 3 to obtain 1000 liters of water on weekly basis. Such an amount is considered high due to unemployment and poverty in these camps.
Water in the camps are not potable, and the reservoirs are unsuitable for water storage, which caused the spread of bacteria that caused diarrhea, stomach disorders, and inflammatory bowel among the refugees, whereas most humanitarian organizations are unable to reach the area because it is a military zone that witnesses clashes between the Lebanese army and the so-called “terrorists.”
When we asked a doctor in Arsal hospital, he indicated that there are many cases of inflammatory bowel, stomach disorders, and poisoning among refugees due to unpotable water in the camps that lack the very basic needs and services.