There is no simple explanation for the economic disaster Lebanon has found itself in. It is so multifaceted that no one has the answer to how the country will get back on its feet, at a time when the banks have stopped working, 75 percent of the population lives below the UN poverty line of 2 dollars a day and where the value of a Lebanese pound has fallen by 95 percent in one year.
This week we were back in Lebanon, after a break of 2.5 years due to the pandemic. It was a strong reunion with a country in greater crisis than ever.
Another trip to Lebanon is over, the 24th in the row for Abri Aid.
Over the past six months, Quality Hotel Region Stavanger has raised over NOK 100,000 for refugee work in Lebanon.
It is exactly three years since Alfred and I went with Sandra Cederholm to look at the conditions in the Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon for the first time. Not much has changed during the 22 trips we have had.
The refugee children in Lebanon are still living in extremely difficult conditions. Almost impossible to understand for anyone who has not experienced this up close, something we have have experienced in over 20 trips over the past three years.
Burning days in the Beka Valley, 32 degrees in the shade. Great for those who have cold water and air conditioning in the car, tough for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees living in the lousy camp camps.
Little Alaa was only 4 months before he died last week. Under miserable living conditions the little body was unable to make it.
Last week was the worst in this crisis’ history regarding the weather and camp conditions.
About 30 children and others have received medical help from Abri Aid this time, the mission works very well due to the close and good cooperation with local authorities.