How Will You Warm Hearts This Winter?

Many of us remember summer nights sitting by a roaring fire either with family, friends or in camp. We sat there, told scary stories, and enjoyed life among nature as we later nestled in our tents. We were able to enjoy this because we knew that this slice of life would later come to an end and we would eventually go back to our warm homes. For Syrian refugees, this a way of life. A year-round event that carries over into frigid, snow-covered nights.

Currently more than 15,000 refugees in Arsal, Lebanon are in dire conditions. Arsal is found in the mountainous Bekaa valley region known for brutal winters. The refugees live in tents with inadequate insulation and roofs that allow for flooding and subzero temperatures to torment children and families. Sources for heat are scarce and as temperatures continue to drop the need for warmth is desperate.

These conditions have left little toes and fingers bitterly cold. The floods have left behind moldy water that spreads diseases. It can cause severe health problems from those that suffer from aspiratory, asthmatic, and other health problems. The vulnerability to the spread of Covid-19 is high as well with the lack of resources and difficulty in delivering those resources with travel restrictions.