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Lebanon has taken in a huge number of Syrian refugees since the Syria Crisis began. Over one million are officially registered with the Lebanese government, according to the UN. They have the largest refugee population per capita in the world.

In 2011, just as the Syrian civil war was beginning, Lebanon had a population of 4.59 million. Now in 2017, after the influx of many refugees, the country’s population stands at 6.03 million.

Dr. Nasser Yassin, Director of Research at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, has researched the positive effects that Syrian refugees are having on the Lebanese economy. Through his research he wants to promote that refugees are assets – not burdens.

“The narrative constructed around the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere is mostly negative and portrays refugees as a burden on societies. You’ll often hear people say things like ‘they’re taking all our jobs, or they’re using up all our resources,’ but these statements are often generalisations and are rarely based on facts,” Yassin said to Stepfeed.

“A refugee only becomes a burden when they are left without education and without an opportunity to contribute to their host countries.”

Syrians are unable to return to their homes, although many of them want to, as the country is still unsafe. International law requires that the return of refugees to be voluntary, to happen in dignity, and to be to a safe place where the reasons for them fleeing in the first place have fundamentally changed – and these conditions are absent in Syria. Any return enforced before the conflict has ended, peace is sustainable and the country is stable, would violate refugees’ rights to a safe, dignified and voluntary return.

Yassin has launched a Twitter series to counter the narrative that refugees are hindering host countries.

In 2015, #Syrians had the largest portion of real estate acquisitions by foreigners in #Lebanon (14.87%). Saudis came second with 13.62% pic.twitter.com/cupApVrDOB

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 16, 2017

This is equivalent to 1.04 million USD a day – #Syrian #refugees contribute to host countries economies. pic.twitter.com/hsE5zfj0Te

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 8, 2017

More than 22 million USD are spent monthly on food by #Syrian #refugees in #Lebanon through the cash for food e-card program #AUB4Refugees pic.twitter.com/S1k6ZGcCea

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 12, 2017

Capacities of #Lebanese government have been enhanced to cope with #refugee crisis #AUB4Refugees pic.twitter.com/DZk0z2r3dT

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 9, 2017

Vast majority of new enterprises, likely SMEs, around #Syrian #refugee communities in #Lebanon are established by Lebanese #AUB4Refugees pic.twitter.com/WVOZV63K7U

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 2, 2017

Majority of these part-time jobs are in second-shift public schools open for #Syrian #refugees #AUB4Refugees pic.twitter.com/GDuAtfGLHb

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 4, 2017

This is equivalent to 3 times the average number of jobs created annually in Lebanon before #Syria crisis. #AUB4Refugees pic.twitter.com/BUZVSy7I9a

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) April 28, 2017

Through interviews, Yassin discovered that the majority of Syrian refugees do wish to return to Syria once it is safe to do so. Oxfam advocates at all levels for countries to uphold the right of refugees to voluntary return in safety and dignity.

The vast majority of #Syrians in #Lebanon want to return to their homeland in safety and dignity. #AUB4Refugees pic.twitter.com/ZVCQzi7Do0

— Nasser Yassin (@nasseryassin) May 17, 2017

Violence has forced many Syrians from their homes, leaving them completely reliant on aid.

Because of your support, Oxfam is there. But this crisis is far from over – help us reach more people in need:

Donate to our Syria Crisis appeal

Conflict has plunged South Sudan into a man-made famine and millions of people across the country are starving. In South Sudan we have been supporting over 400,000 people, ensuing they have safe access to food. We’re providing them with cash or vouchers so they can buy from local markets, and we’re distributing food with the World Health Programme (WHP).

In March, our Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods team (EFSVL) learned that new families were arriving in the town of Nyal exhausted and severely malnourished. People had fled their homes to escape the fighting, had their food looted and crops destroyed. This meant that people hadn’t eaten for days.

Many walked for two to five days to get to Nyal, with much of their journey through the vast Sudd swamp. When they arrived, children were subdued and people were so weak they could only lie on the floor.

The next food delivery was several days away, so our team had to act fast. The desperate situation meant that an exceptional decision was taken to charter a plane and fly in a supply of beans and oil from Oxfam’s Juba warehouse, and compliment it with salt purchased locally from markets.

These photos, taken by Oxfam staffers Corrie Sissons and Lauren Hartnett, show the seven steps Oxfam took to ensure food was efficiently and effectively delivered to those who desperately need it.

1. Local survey.

Before food is distributed in an area, Oxfam staffers survey local traders to see if items can be bought locally. The survey showed that salt was available, so this was purchased in Nyal.

2. Flying in supplies.

When the plane landed at the airstrip, Oxfam staffers unloaded the sacks of beans and cans of oil—enough for about 1,800 people, most of whom are women and children.

3. Transporting the food.

Staffers load food into vehicles so they can deliver it to the sites where people will gather for the distributions – a four hour round trip.

4. Taking fingerprints.

An Oxfam staffer records the fingerprints of people who will be receiving food during the distribution. The fingerprints are in lieu of signatures and serve as verification that people got their share of beans, oil and salt.

5. Distribution.

Oxfam staffers portion out cooking oil to distribute to families who had registered for food.

6. Stoking the fire.

As soon as they received their food, people stoked up their fires and got to work preparing a meal of beans.

7. Eating!

The dispalced families in Nyal now have some desperately needed food, which not only fills tummies, but lifts spirits. It even allows child’s play to return to what it what it might have been during a more peaceful time. “Playing kitchen,” these children have their own small pot of beans to cook over their own little fire.

Now that the families are in Nyal, the World Food Programme will register them to receive monthly food support.

People are continually arriving in Nyal, weak and hungry. We need to get as much food and aid to them as possible – and fast. You can help:

Donate here

Women arriving after walking through the swamp for hours. Photo: Pedro Mariel/Oxfam

Swamp is all that many South Sudanese mothers can see for miles. They journey through it, by foot or canoe, pursuing food. Medicine. Aid. The bare minimum to keep their children going during this time of hunger and conflict.

Years of conflict in South Sudan has resulted in famine. Over five million people – 40 per cent of the population – are in desperate need of food assistance.

Usually, only women and their children make this journey. Leave their homes in pursuit of survival. The husbands stay back, hoping to protect their homes from becoming a casualty of conflict.

Fuelled by ground water lily bulbs and the occasional swamp-dwelling fish, mothers make these trips motivated by the thought of being able to provide for their children and keep them safe.

Dylan Quinnell, a Kiwi who works for Oxfam Australia, was recently in South Sudan. He heard some of the stories of these courageous mothers first-hand, and told them to Radio New Zealand (link):

“They told us of how they had to get their children, get their belongings, hide in the bush for two days with no food as the fighting was all around them. As soon as it was safe enough they put the children and what few goods they had onto tarpaulins and actually dragged them through the swamps for as many as nine days.

”One of the mothers we met was eight-and-a-half months pregnant at the time and she actually gave birth to her daughter in the swamp. She’s given her a name in South Sudanese that means ‘born in a crisis’.”

Photo: Bruno Bierrenbach-Feder/Oxfam

Fleeing recent attacks, Nyandiew (right) and Nyachak (far left) ferried their children to safety via canoe. They had to leave their husbands behind and now they cannot go home. If they go to the mainland, they worry they won’t be able to receive food from the World Health Programme.

Photo: Bruno Bierrenbach-Feder/Oxfam

Tabitha is resting with her daughter, who is sucking on “tuok’’ (a dry seed from a palm tree).

“I was here before as an IDP [internally displaced person] and returned home in late 2016,” she says. “It is so unfortunate that the conflict resurfaced again. I do not think I will go back again until I am sure all is well again. Most of our animals died on the way. We feed on water lilies, fish, and anything we could find in the river. What we currently need is food, medication and NFIs [non-food items] shall be of great assistance to us. The more time it takes the worse it shall be for us.”

Some of the names in this story have been changed to protect the individuals.

The people of South Sudan are doing all they can to help themselves. We need to get more food, clean water, and other vital support to the most vulnerable people.

Auckland’s very own Sarah Badju was recently in Nigeria with Oxfam’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) team.

A violent seven-year conflict in Nigeria involving Boko Haram and the military operations to counter them has forced millions of civilians to flee their homes in search of safety. Millions of people in the country, and also in Niger and Chad, are now living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps or host communities and are in desperate need of food, water, shelter and sanitation.

Oxfam in Nigeria has well-established programmes in some areas, however many places have been deemed too insecure or too physically difficult for humanitarian organisations to access – meaning that thousands of people aren’t receiving the aid that they desperately need.

The Oxfam Rapid Response team in Maiduguri have been working to try and reach more of these people. Oxfam is now starting programmes in three newly accessible areas (NAAs) in Borno state: Gwoza Town, Pulka and Rann.

New arrivals seeking refuge in Rann. Photo: Sarah Badju

Sarah Badju assisted with WASH work in one of these NAAs – Rann, in Borno State.

Rann was attacked by Boko Haram in April/May 2014 and wasn’t retaken by the Nigerian Army until March 2016. The people of Rann fled from the attacks, and have not returned as yet.

The majority of people in Rann now are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have inhabited the town and are living in the abandoned and damaged shelters, as there is no camp set up.

The area is in desperate need of water and sanitation, and the infrastructure desperately needs to be repaired after the destruction caused by Boko Haram.

Around 40-50 households came to Rann each day while Sarah was there. That’s about 300-350 individuals. The town’s original population was 2,500, but it has now increased to 50,000.

 

A lady in Rann who received a hygiene kit and dignity kit from Oxfam. She told Sarah that she had walked for two days with her children to get to Rann. She came here to get away from “the boys” (Boko Haram). Photo: Sarah Badju

Oxfam’s response

Oxfam ran focus groups with both women and men, Nigerian Red Cross volunteers, the Nigerian Army and Youth Leaders to gauge what people’s greatest needs were. Women and men both expressed that they desperately needed more water access. Men also said that accessing food was a priority, and women expressed a need for livelihood opportunities.

When Oxfam arrived, it was estimated that people only had access to 3-4 litres of water per day (less than half of the amount of a flush of a Western toilet).

Oxfam have since distributed hygiene kits, environmental cleaning kits and dignity kits. We’re building enough toilets for 10,000 people, and have drilled 5 new boreholes which will provide people with clean water.

Oxfam’s environmental cleaning kits. Photo: Sarah Badju

The start of a new toilet that Oxfam is building. Photo: Sarah Badju

The priorities for Oxfam’s response are:

• Water provision, particularly the construction of boreholes
• Sanitation, particularly the construction of toilets that women and children can access
• Hygiene promotion, particularly the distribution of kits and water buckets and running hygiene training activities

Since the Syria Crisis began in 2011, just over 15,000 Syrians have moved to the US. Syrian families make the journey to the US, and other countries around the world, driven by the desire of safety, and giving their children a future with opportunity.

Below are four stories of families – brave families – who have journeyed to the US to start a new life with the help of the Syrian Community Network, a Chicago-based Oxfam ally.

Ahmed Abizaid is a father of five. The day bullets from a sniper’s gun shattered his leg when he was leaving work in Dera’a, his life changed forever. The injury to his thigh was so severe that for the first 15 minutes he felt nothing, but racing through his mind were his wife and children and deep anxiety about what might become of them.

Afraid to go to the local hospital, his townspeople arranged to smuggle him into Jordan, avoiding guards at the border. His family followed him after two months. Five operations later, Abizaid now has steel plates in his leg to stabilize it and is hoping for continued medical care of the injury here.

“It took two years ‘till I could walk,” he said. “The first year I could not put my leg on the ground at all. There was no movement. Now I can walk 200 to 300 meters, and it wears me out.”

Now resettled in a suburb of Chicago, and with a new baby having arrived last summer, Abizaid, his wife, and their five children—one of whom is Sham—are learning to navigate in a whole new world.

And as he feels his way through all the uncertainties, there is one thing he never loses sight of: the future his children will have. For Abizaid, that is the best thing about being in America.

“My children will be educated,” he said. “My children’s future is the most important thing for me.”

And though school has only just started, they’re learning English quickly, especially his oldest daughter, who is 13.

“I ask her sometimes, ‘what is this?’ and she translates for me a little,” said Abizaid, sounding justifiably proud. “You know, it’s all new to her, too, but she’s learning.”

There are other satisfactions, too—things some Americans may take for granted since they haven’t experienced otherwise.

“We feel safe,” said Abizaid simply. “And what’s more important, I’m seeing the order here. The order in America is the best. . . I see it much better than what we have. For example, when I see a car stop for someone to cross the street; when I see my children walk to and from school and I’m not worried about them.”

It’s been a little more than a year since Batoul Taha and her family flew to Chicago and stepped from the plane into the welcoming arms of a group of volunteers from a local church who have helped ease the family into their new lives after fleeing the war in Syria.

“When I came to the states I always thought we will have some financial support, but actually it means way more when I found the emotional support,” said Taha, thinking back on all that the church volunteers and others have done for her and her family.

Among those meaningful gestures was the gift of a six-week summer class at the Art Institute of Chicago, where Taha focused on fashion design and illustration. The volunteers payed for her tuition and materials—at least those she didn’t scrounge from home, like the fabric pieces she used in a construction that focused on textures.

The church group had a hunch Taha and the art institute would be a good match. They had seen some of her drawings, Taha said—a skill her father, a calligrapher, had encouraged her to pursue when the family moved to Lebanon, before coming to Chicago.

“My father, he knows how to draw also, so he taught me how to draw,” said Taha, laughing at the memory of her early lessons with him. “One time, he said you should draw it in the middle of the page. I was drawing at the top of the paper.”

To help her, he bought Taha colored pencils and paper.

“I love the materials,” she said, describing the inspiration she gets from them. “Especially when I see the white paper I like it so much—without the lines. It gives you the way forward.”

When Feras Shawish and Rehab Alkadi resettled in Chicago after losing everything they had worked hard for in Syria, they knew it wouldn’t be easy. There was the isolation of being newcomers; the frustration of forestalled career dreams; and the day-to-day challenges of navigating in a new culture.

But for all the difficulty, there are moments of profound delight—proof that yes, they can make this work, that they will fit in. And the best part is, their little boy, who is now 4, will probably beat them to it.

The other day, said Shawish, their son came home from day care and announced, with an ease elusive for people whose native tongue doesn’t include the sound “p,” that he wanted a pink car. There it was: the perfect “p”, popped from the mouth of a child who a few short months before hadn’t spoken a word of English.

“We cannot pronounce pink,” said Shawish. “It’s not ‘p’, it’s ‘b’, like boy. . . I cannot pronounce pink like him. Oh my god, he speaks very good English.”

So, by the way, does Shawish, who gleaned much of what he knows from the mountain of medical textbooks and journals he pored over in Syria. Still, when your offspring surpasses you—and he’s only 4—well, that’s something to marvel at.

Strolling down the streets of Chicago in a gingham shirt and shorts in late summer, Samhar Assaf looks so at ease it’s as if he has lived in the Windy City his entire life. Chalk it up to the movies.

In his hometown of Homs, in Syria, Assaf spent many happy childhood hours watching big screen tales made in America. Anything starring Vin Diesel got a thumbs up, and cities with towering skylines almost started to feel like home.

So when Assaf, 20, landed in Chicago a few short months ago, it was no biggie. Not at first. But it didn’t take him long to figure out that Hollywood wasn’t telling the whole story about the USA.

“I thought life would be very easy—from the beginning,” he said. “Of course it was not easy from the beginning.”

But Assaf has a personal motto: “If I love it, I can do it.” And he has been throwing himself with determination into every challenge that presents itself—including gearing up to get his high school diploma in the US, despite the fact that he finished his studies before coming to the US. But without the papers to prove it, and with a determination to go to college, he was headed back to school to start his junior year in September.

Photos: Coco McCabe/Oxfam

Many Syrians are still caught up in violence, are fleeing their homes and losing touch with their family members. Help us keep them safe and donate today:

Donate to our Syria Crisis appeal