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UNHCR seeks to provide USD multi-mln winter aid for Iraqi, Syrian refugees

BEIRUT, Oct 18 (KUNA) -- UN refugees agency (UNHCR) said Tuesday it sought to provide assistance during winter for around 4.57 million Iraqis and Syrian people, who were either displaced and refugees in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
The winter assistance plan will overall cost USD 343 million, UNHCR said in a statement but the agency was still short of funding.
The announcement came as Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees at UNHCR, was visiting the country.
It added it would launch a regional campaign to ask from private sector donors to help improve living condition of refugees, either by building better shelters or sewage systems.
It said there were around 55,000 families living in poor conditions in Lebanon, like in tents, car parks, barns and buildings underconstruction, as well as providing blankets, heaters and clothes.
A UN report issued last month said more than 70 percent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, surpassing 1.1 million people, living under poverty line. (end) wsm.bs