UNHCR warns that the coming winter will be more difficult for displaced Syrians than in recent years
UNHCR spokespersen Olga Sarrado warned at apress conference at the UN palace in Geneva on Friday that the coming winter will be more difficult for refugees than in recent years.
Sarrado made it clear that many and Syrian displaced refugees will have to cope with extreme cold and snowstorms once again, pointing out that this winter will be the 12th successive winter for many.
Sarrado pointed out that UNHCR has estimated about 3.4 million Syrians and Iraqis internally displaced in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, will need to obtain necessary assistance to prepare for and cope with winter.
Sarrado affirmed that the economic crisis in Lebanon is pushing Syrian refugees to the brink, adding that 9 out of 10 Syrian refugees live in extreme poverty, forcing them to reduce food consumption and suspend their need for medical care, while many of them are falling more and more into debt as they seek to cover their basic needs.
Sarrado pointed out that UNHCR launched a global winter fundraising campaign, with the aim of helping forcibly displaced families meet their most urgent needs during the coldest months of the year.
