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SIGHTS WITHOUT RIGHTS
REFUGEES SYRIANS N LEBANON
Syrians began to arrive in Lebanon following the outbreak of the crisis in Syria in 2011. The revolt began in Deraa in March of that year on the wave of the Arab springs and after the arrest and torture of students who had hung up. revolutionary slogans in one of the city's schools. Thousands took to the streets to denounce the lack of rights and the violence of the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, in power since 2000 (who succeeded his father Hafiz al-Assad in power since 67). The repression of government forces only strengthened the protest movement. The Syrian spring has evolved violently becoming a fratricidal war, not yet over, in which regional and international powers interfere.
The conflict has devastated the lives of millions of Syrians displaced en masse to escape bombing and violence. Destruction, insecurity and growing poverty have forced over 13 million people to flee their homes. Of these, about 6 million sought refuge, initially in neighboring states, then also in Europe.
The flow of Syrians to Lebanon has been massive. Currently there are about 1.5 million. About 20% live in spontaneous fields in precarious conditions. The camps are agglomerations of tents, sheet metal huts and plastic sheets, exposed to the elements and with insufficient services. Those who live in towns are not faring better, often staying in shared houses with several families, and getting by with daily jobs. Several Syrians have also settled in Palestinian camps initially in makeshift shelters, shops and even on rooftops. Like the Palestinians, the majority of Syrians also work illegally in agriculture, construction or transport services (taxis) with poor wages and in total absence of rights and social protections. Today, according to UNHCR data, 9/10 of the Syrian population in Lebanon lives below the poverty line.
In recent years, some have returned to Syria, mainly driven by pressure from the Lebanese government and the increasingly critical social and economic conditions. Those who returned, often without knowing what they would find, were victims of arbitrary arrests, torture, interrogations, killings, the same reasons that had led them to flee. Many try to reach Europe illegally by following the routes of the Mediterranean or the Balkans and facing long, exhausting and risky journeys. Even today, millions of Syrians are stuck in transit countries waiting to cross borders to countries where they hope to be able to rebuild a safer present and future.
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