Winter storm brings misery to Middle East refugees

[polly7]

7 January 2015 Last updated at 08:37 ET


Syrian refugees in Lebanon tried to remove snow from the roofs of their tents to prevent them collapsing

A fierce winter storm has brought freezing temperatures to the Middle East, raising worries about the plight of the millions of refugees there.

The UN is also "extremely concerned" about the situation in Jordan, where it is distributing extra blankets.

More than 7.6 million people have been displaced inside Syria since the uprising began in 2011, while more than 3.3 million have fled abroad.

At the scene: Paul Wood, BBC News, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
One of the tents - used as a schoolroom - has collapsed from the weight of snow. The "main street" of the camp is a lake of dirty, icy water. Children stand around, seemingly dressed more for summer than for winter. Some even wear flip-flops.

We are in a makeshift refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. Even after four years as refugees, people are still living under plastic sheeting. Conditions are miserable.

Up to 19,600 families are currently displaced in Gaza, with many forced to live in war-damaged buildings


Syrian refugees sit on the street in Istanbul (6 January 2015)
In Turkey, temperatures were forecast to stay below zero for several days

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30711789?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMorning%20Brief&utm_campaign=2014_MorningBrief%201.8.15

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