Over 50 million people have had to flee their homes because of persecution or war since 2013 says the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in a report revealing the highest rate of refugees since World War 2.
Mr Anthony Guterres, head of the UNHRC said the rise is a dramatic challenge for aid organisations. He attributed this significant rise to conflicts in Syria, Central African Republic and South Sudan.
In an effort to draw attention to the plight of refugees and their host countries, Mr Guterres visited a refugee camp in Lebanon. “An attitude of compassion and solidarity from the international community in relation to the Syrian refugees and to countries hosting the refugees is needed more than ever. And what the international community is doing is very little compared with the suffering and the needs of the people we met, “he said.
There are about a million Syrian refugees displaced in Lebanon which makes up a quarter of their population. Only 20% of the Syrian children are in schools where they can earn diplomas and improve their lives. At least 50,000 Syrian children work as child labourers in Lebanon to support their families.
He stressed the need for more support from the international community for the Syrian Refugees but also support for host countries like Lebanon, Jordan and other host countries facing enormous challenge.
By Remi Serrano
