From NPR:
Lebanon hosts more than 1 million Syrian refugees and only allows them to build shelters made of canvas and wood. But the laws have not been clearly stated. The government doesn't permit the establishment of formal refugee camps. So instead, many refugees live in informal settlements, in makeshift homes, some of which have grown over time into more durable homes with breeze-block walls.HRW notes that many Lebanese municipalities have been evicting Syrian refugees from their homes as well in an effort to pressure them to return to Syria, where they may face death.
A military decree issued in April now requires the refugees to demolish any concrete walls over 1 meter — about 3 feet — high. The military has given the refugees until July 1 to comply, or else authorities will come in and knock down the structures themselves.
But the fear among refugees is that if they leave it to the military to enforce the demolitions, the entire camp, along with their belongings, will be razed. And so they're going about the grim task of destroying the homes they have built.
"Why would I keep my belongings and my children in the house and let the house be knocked down on top of my kids and things?" Jumaa says.
Most of the Syrians have no alternative place for shelter, and it's unclear where thousands of them will go after their homes are destroyed.
The sudden ruling has left aid agencies scrambling to procure tents for those who will be left without homes. According to Save the Children, this military decree has affected more than 5,000 Syrian families, and as many as 15,000 Syrian children now face homelessness.
Surely you have seen the screaming headlines about Syrian refugee homes in danger of demolition, right? CodePink and IfNotNow have been making public protests, right? The media has been all over this story, no?
(h/t JWD)