A fierce winter storm, forecast to last several days, has brought snowfall and freezing temperatures to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Turkey. Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have also been affected.
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Map of the Middle East (green). Courtesy Wikipedia
Snow has fallen in the mountains around Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Syrians are living in tents or unfinished or unheated buildings, the snow blocked roads and forced many businesses to close.
Fearing that the weight of the snow might collapse their makeshift shelters, men used brooms and sticks to try to clear the heavy snow from the tops of their tents. (see photo)
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.
More than 7.6 million people have been displaced inside Syria since the uprising began in 2011.
The UN is also “extremely concerned” about the situation in Jordan, where it is distributing extra blankets.
See entire article:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30711789
Thanks to Dean Koehler for this link
