LOC20:01
17:01 GMT
Refugee children forced to cope with freezing temperatures
BEIRUT, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- The United Nations International Children's Fund
(UNICEF) said Friday that it is exerting more efforts to help save 110 refugee
children amid fierce snowstorm, Alexa, that is sweeping the eastern
Mediterranean.
More than 110 children and their families are living in unstable
residential areas under extreme circumstances due to the harsh weather
conditions, some having fled war-torn Syria.
They are short on gas heat, and some have seen their camps destroyed due to
the harsh storm, a statement by UNICEF's media office here said.
The statement noted that UNICEF is working relentlessly with partners to
protect as many Lebanese and Syrian families due to the extreme cold weather.
Earlier this week, the powerful storm swept the region and is causing
mayhem and inflicting extra misery on the Syrians convulsed in a civil war and
who have fled the fighting in their country.
Alexa is expected to last until Saturday, bringing more snow, rain and
freezing temperatures to large swathes of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and
the Palestinian territories.
The bad weather, which began on Wednesday, is taking a disproportionate
toll on the 2.2 million refugees living outside Syria and the 6.5 million
people displaced within their own country. (end)
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KUNA 132001 Dec 13NNNN