CURRENT SITUATION

SYRIA
A source of Unicef has reported that, in the last two weeks, at least ten children have been killed in the north-east of Syria.
It is a terrifying signal that violence is strongly affecting again the Syrian territory.
For several days artillery attacks and air strikes have hit the civilian areas within the cease-fire territories, in the suburbs of Idlib and Alep. The attacks, which have been recently increased, have reached their spike just few days before the celebration of Eid al-Adha, the sacrifice feast day.  
Since many days violent clashes between the Syrian regular army and the anti-government groups are going on around the city of Daraa al-Balad, in the southern province of Daraa, which is considered a stronghold of the opposition to Bashar al-Assad.

According to local sources, the ongoing clashes are the harshest since, on the border with Jordan, the southern province – inhabited by a Sunni majority - has come under the control of the government. The pro-government newspaper “Al-Watan” reports that “a military operation has started against the hideouts of terrorists who have broken the reconciliation agreement”.
According to the agreement reached under Russian mediation, many former rebel fighters, rather than evacuating, remained in Daraa al-Balad, a southern district of Daraa city, among the territories controlled by the ex-opposition forces. The Guardian reported that, on Wednesday, the city witnessed strong airstrikes and a land offensive carried out by Syrian army units and pro-Iranian forces. Sources on the ground report 28 deaths, among which 11 civilians and some children, telling about an on-going negotiation to reach the cease-fire.

LEBANON
Our Lebanese neighbors tell us that the families are increasingly suffering.
The electricity is granted only for few hours per day, which means that internet and the refrigerators work sporadically.  
The fuel is hard to be found and it gets more expensive week after week. The cost of the food constantly increases, while the Lira value decreases. Medicines, fundamental for children and the elderly, are insufficient. Even when it is possible to withdraw cashes, people receive 20% less of the original deposit’s value because of the exchange rate established by the Central Bank.
Those who can, they leave the country as quicker as possible, but the majority of the population cannot. Therefore, there are millions of angry, frustrated, fearing and powerless Lebanese people and Syrian refugees.
In July the instability of the country worsened further. Among its causes, the political uncertainty surely weighed on.
Hariri, the former Prime Minister, in charged of forming a government, did not succeed thus causing a strong monetary fluctuation of the Lira in relation to the Dollar (1 $ for 23000 LL): many shops remained closed since selling is disadvantageous.
In the last weeks, the new Prime Minister, Mikati, is encountering difficulties in forming a new government. After his appointment, several tensions and protests have occurred, mainly in Tripoli area. Indeed, he is not a new representative, Mikati was already Prime Minister and he has been accused of corruption.
Since fuel and oil are hard to find, the movements between cities are blocked and the power generators cannot work.  
People we meet tell us that, in some neighborhoods of the capital city, the electricity is granted only for few hour per day. This situation makes refilling the water tanks difficult.
Many Lebanese people told us that they want to leave the country.
It seems that the passport applications are considerably increasing, a clear sign that the country is adrift.

SHARING, WORK AND NEWS ABOUT VOLUNTEERS

The volunteers are spending some nights per week in the refugee camp. Thanks to this presence, the volunteers are constantly in contact with the families and their increasing help requests, especially for medical support.
Due to the propaganda carried on in the last years, the current emergency situation in Lebanon has been causing severe consequences on the relations between the Lebanese and the Syrians.
Mr. A.S., a father of a Syrian family, told us that he has been threatened by some members of a Lebanese family for which he worked for free. In the past, the same Lebanese family killed a Syrian man that worked for them, like Mr. A.S. Now Mr. A.S. dreads for himself and his family. The two members of the Lebanese family involved in the murder are detained in prison.
No one can imagine how to get out from this crisis, day by day we try to stand by these persons, in particular the most vulnerable ones.

The Peace Proposal for Syria

Regarding the Peace Proposal for Syria, the work with professors and researchers who are studying experiences about the creation of Humanitarian Zones is going on.

For further information: Syrian Refugees Peace Proposal