‘We lost everything’: Syrian refugees caught up in Beirut blast
Al JazeeraAlready among the most vulnerable in Lebanese society, refugees are struggling to cope in the blast’s aftermath. Omer Elnaiem, head of communications at the UNHCR, said: “The organisation has only confirmed 14 so far.” ‘Lost everything’ Basma Tabaja, deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Lebanon, said Syrians were particularly affected by the incident. “We put up with all that for the sake of the kids’ future, but we’ve now lost any sense of safety and security.” Already vulnerable There are nearly one million registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, having moved there since the start of the civil war in 2011, according to the UNHCR. “Syrian refugees were already part of the most vulnerable sector in the Lebanese society,” said UNHCR’s Elnaeim. “After the blast, they’ve been pushed further down.” Tabaja agreed, saying that “Syrian refugees have an added layer of vulnerability”.