Flames Set Ablaze More than 70 Refugee Tents in Zahle
A huge fire erupted on Friday afternoon in Sahel al-Fayda area on the outskirts of the Bekaa city of Zahle, setting several refugee tents ablaze.
The fire set ablaze “more than 70 tents,” LBCI television reported, adding that civil defense forces rushed to the scene to contain the flames.
The causes of the fire are yet to be revealed.
Images of the incident aired on the TV network revealed that the flames have damaged many of the refugees' possessions inside the tents, as children were seen crying in fear.
Refugees then escaped in masses to avoid being caught up in the flames.
This isn't the first time Syrian refugees come across such an incident as on May 31, a huge blaze erupted inside a camp in the Bekaa town of Shtaura, burning down more than 17 tents without causing any injuries.
And clashes between army troops and extremist jihadists in the northeastern border town of Arsal earlier this month resulted also in the destruction of several tents in the Bekaa area.
More than one million Syrians are currently residing in Lebanon according to data released by the UNHCR, although several sources reveal that the actual numbers of refugees who have fled war-torn Syria are likely far higher.
Lebanon is home to the highest number of Syrian refugees in the region, and also to the highest refugee population per capita in the world.
S.D.B.
Picture source: LBCI and al-Jadeed television.
Source: Naharnet
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