The migratory pressure of Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley significantly affects schools that have already suffered from water and sanitation deficiencies since before the crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to UNHCR, there are currently one million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and an estimated half million remain in the country without a certain status. This is the second largest population of Syrian refugees in the region and the largest per capita refugee population in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the 31st March 2018, according to the latest figures from UNHCR, there were 991,165 Syrian refugees registered in Lebanon, among them 357,592 in the Bekaa Valley (28,7% males < 18, 26,4% girls < 18, 16,9% men and 26,6% women). In spite of the efforts to move towards a more stabilization-oriented response, basic humanitarian needs remain extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation in Lebanon, even before the Syrian crisis, was already precarious and deficient in terms of water quantity. The fact that many wells are contaminated and most of the infrastructure needs important renovation works is now added to this previous situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Efforts to improve this situation by reducing the losses of the system in order to meet the demands of the Lebanese population more efficiently have been eclipsed by an increase of almost 30% of the total population due to the crisis. Nowadays only 36% of this population, regardless of their nationality, uses safely managed drinking water services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Combined with the lack of immediate assistance, this huge influx of refugees has caused a significant deterioration in the living conditions and social cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This migratory pressure especially affects schools, which have been suffering water and sanitation shortages since before the crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n