Syrian refugee children in Lebanon forced to seek work
Written by Najib

 

Over a million Syrian refugees have arrived in Lebanon, fleeing the conflict in their country. Syrians now make up a quarter of the population of this tiny Mediterranean country. Many were forced to leave with only what they could carry, and are living in desperate poverty. Finding work is difficult, and many families are forced to send their children out to work to make ends meet.  Mariam Houssein al-Ali, 11 (left), and her sister Ragala, 10, are from the Aleppo countryside. In Syria they lived in a big house and did not work. Now, like more than 80% of Syrian working children, they are labouring in the fields. Mariam says: ‘It’s good to have work because we need money to live’. [Link]