Syrian refugee crisis surges in Lebanon

With little fanfare, the tiny, fragile country has emerged at the epicenter of the refugee crisis. According to U.N. numbers, more than 210,000 Syrians have registered with authorities in Lebanon.

5 Seconds

00:00

Jan. 10, 2013

A young Syrian refugee looks out from a tent supplied by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in al-Marj, Lebanon. Refugees there are suffering from the cold and a food shortage after snow and widespread flooding. More than 210,000 Syrians have registered with authorities in Lebanon, according to U.N. figures, although the construction of camps that would evoke the Palestinian experience has not been allowed and erection of tents is outlawed. The total is probably higher, because wealthier Syrians who don’t seek U.N. help have joined the exodus.

Lucie Parsaghian / European Pressphoto Agency

Jan. 9, 2013

Syrian refugees sit around a stove inside their tent during a winter storm in Zahle, Lebanon. The vast majority of the refugees are poor and from the hard-hit provinces of Homs and Damascus.

Afif Diab / Reuters

Jan. 8, 2013

A Syrian refugee gestures outside his flooded tent in al-Faour, Lebanon. Two refugee areas in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley were inundated after the Litani River flooded. The water forced dozens of Syrians to leave in search of alternate shelter.

Hussein Malla / AP

Jan. 7, 2013

A Palestinian family stands outside its tent in al-Marj. The family had journeyed to Lebanon from the Yarmouk camp in Damascus, Syria’s capital. Yarmouk has been the scene of clashes between Palestinians loyal to the Syrian regime and rebels supported by Palestinian fighters, activists have said. Most Palestinian refugees inside Syria live at Yarmouk.

Hussein Malla / AP

Jan. 7, 2013

Young Syrian refugees look outside their tent in al-Marj, which is near the Syria-Lebanon border. Alone among Syria’s neighbors, Lebanon has refused to allow the construction of camps that would evoke the Palestinian experience. The erection of tents is outlawed, although refugees have pitched their own out of desperation. Also, Lebanon’s Hezbollah-led government is allied to the Syrian regime, further complicating efforts to assist the refugees.

Hussein Malla / AP

Jan. 8, 2013

Young refugees watch television in a temporary shelter after their tents in al-Faour flooded. Syrian refugees in Lebanon are left largely to fend for themselves and often must rely on the generosity of local communities. Some Christian politicians have called for the refugees to be barred entry altogether.

Hussein Malla / AP

Jan. 15, 2013

Actress Mia Farrow, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, walks with young refugees children in Baalbeck, Lebanon. Farrow was on a two-day visit to meet Syrian refugees.

Mohamed Azakir / Reuters

Jan. 7, 2013

A Syrian boy looks outside his tent in al-Marj. Lebanon recently appealed to the international community for $180 million to fund a refugee plan. Soon, it will probably be forced to allow camps, said Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour, who has long campaigned for greater assistance for the refugees.

Hussein Malla / AP

Jan. 15, 2013

UNICEF goodwill ambassador Mia Farrow visits a Syrian refugee in Baalbek.

Joseph Eid / AFP/Getty Images

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

A police forensics officer investigates a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of his government's emergency Cobra security committee after the killing of a man in south London, his office said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Terrorism cited in London cleaver attack

Two assailants hacked to death a man reported to be a British soldier on a busy East London street Wednesday afternoon before delivering an pparent...

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Statues on display on the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in The Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 21, 2013 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show run by the RHS celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Photos of the day

Chelsea Flower Show, face transplant in Poland, Oklahoma residents cope with tornado aftermath and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a twister carved a long path of destruction in a suburb of Oklahoma City. It was part of the...

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Ken Marino, Erica Oyama, Ben Stiller, Chris Harrison, and Mike Rosenstein aceept the Webby Award for 'Burning Love' at the 17th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)

Eye on entertainment

Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Emma Stone, 2 Chainz, Tyrese Gibson, Susan Boyle and more.

This combination of Associated Press photos shows left, a neighborhood in Moore, Okla., in ruins on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, after a tornado flattened many houses and buildings in central Oklahoma, and right, flattened houses in Moore on Monday, May 20, 2013. Monday's powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999. (AP Photo)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Animal views

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
SEARCH 'DANAKIL DEPRESSION' FOR ALL

Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.