A Syrian child tragically lost her life in a fire that broke out in a refugee camp in Qab Elias, a town in Lebanon’s Zahle District, Beqaa Governorate, local authorities reported on Friday.
The fire destroyed two tents, but the cause remains unknown, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA). Civil Defense teams rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames, but the child had already succumbed to the fire.
The tragedy adds to a series of similar incidents in Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon, where poor living conditions, overcrowding, and lack of safety measures put thousands at risk. Fires spread quickly in makeshift shelters made of flammable materials, leaving refugees vulnerable to repeated disasters.
Lebanon hosts around 1.8 million Syrian refugees, including 880,000 registered with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Many live in extreme poverty and face severe restrictions on movement, limited access to healthcare and education, and increasing hostility from local authorities and communities.
The Syrian refugee crisis began in 2011, following protests against President Bashar al-Assad. As the conflict escalated, millions fled the country, seeking refuge in Lebanon and other neighboring nations. More than a decade later, many remain displaced and uncertain about their future, with some facing pressure to return to Syria despite ongoing instability.
This tragic fire raises urgent questions about the safety and well-being of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, emphasizing the need for immediate humanitarian interventions to prevent similar disasters.
