Helping Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: How It Started
The humanitarian crisis in Syria is felt in many countries, but especially those that border Syria. In 2016, Giles Duley and The Legacy of War Foundation brought to our attention four refugee families living in an encampment in Lebanon who needed some life changing assistance.
In partnership with Random Acts, GISH players raised enough money to fund a new wheelchair for a young girl named Aya who has spina bifida. They were also able to financially assist a mother and her child who had lost everything after fleeing Syria.
Food and hope were brought to a family, including Khawla, a 12-year-old girl who had tried to end her life to ensure her brothers and sisters could eat.
They were also able to help Khouloud, a young mother who had been paralyzed by a sniper’s shot. She had not left her tent in four years, and she was able to watch her children play in the sunshine again.
All of these families were moved from the encampment into stable, permanent housing. Using the more than $250,000 raised by GISH, Random Acts was able to also pay for needed care for these refugees, provide them with plenty to eat, and ensure their children are able to get an education. These families have a much happier future thanks to the fundraising efforts of Random Acts and GISHers worldwide.
Misha Collins on Helping Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
How It’s Going:
The Syrian families now living in Lebanon are doing well. They have access to safe housing and, for the children, education.
Khawla is now almost 18 years old, and she has been working hard to catch up on her education. She wants to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.
Costs have increased, particularly for fuel. Inflation in Lebanon was 215% as of February 2022. Like many people in Lebanon, “our” Syrian families rely on fuel-fed generators for electricity. However, thanks to Random Acts and GISH, the refugee families are safe and able to get electricity.
Giles Duley on Syrians and Lebanese Finding Hope Through a Shared Meal
“From a tent to the house […] our situation has improved considerably. When we lived in the tent, we didn’t have a refrigerator, so we didn’t have anything to keep food fresh. There were many mosquitoes and cockroaches. But when we moved here our lives became much better.”
Sanna & Khawla
Photos on this page provided courtesy of Giles Duley and Legacy of War
