Refugees in Lebanon Face Economic Hardship

A joint United Nations agency study has revealed that Syrian refugees in Lebanon remain highly vulnerable and that despite living there for years, their economic situation continues to be difficult, leaving more than a third food insecure. 
"Syrian refugees are barely coping," Amin Awad, Director of the Middle Eastern and North Africa bureau of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today. "They remain extremely vulnerable and dependent on aid from the international community. Without continued support, their situation would be appalling." The study, conducted by UNHCR, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) analyzes the situation of some 1.5 million Syrians living in Lebanon. It is the fourth of its kind and includes detailed data from visits to more than 4,500 Syrian refugee households in 26 districts throughout the country. 
The report found that families have exhausted their resources and are now taking on harmful or asset-depleting coping mechanisms just to survive. Since 2015, there has been a 12% increase in the number of families who are moderately to severely food insecure. 71% live below the poverty line and more than half of families have 5 or more people living together.

Source: QNA