Risky trips | Syrians sneak into Lebanon, searching for decent standards of living
Syrian young people from all Syrian provinces dream of leaving Syrian for Lebanon, searching for a better future. In this context, SOHR activists have confirmed that tens of Syrians, including women and children gather every day below the bridge in Talbiseh city to start their risky journeys to the Lebanese territory with the help of smugglers who bribe members stationed at checkpoints of the 4th Division which are deployed along the border strip between Syria and Lebanon in the western countryside of Homs to allow them to cross those checkpoints.
Speaking to SOHR, a young man known by his initials as M. T. who has decided to leave Syria for Lebanon said, “despite threats and security prosecutions which target Syrians who have been sneaked into Lebanon, the living conditions of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are much better than the living conditions in Syrian provinces. In Syria, you need to work for a whole week to cover the needs of your family for only one or two days. Breadwinners suffer from a stifling financial distress because of the acute lack of job opportunities and deteriorating living conditions and economy, especially after the exchange of the Syrian currency against the US dollar approximated 10,000 SYP. All these challenges and difficulties spurred Syrians to risk their lives and safety by leaving Syria and search for jobs in Lebanon or leave for another country where they may find the minimum levels of basic necessities.”
Another young man known as H. W. from Daraa province, who has recently arrived in Talbiseh city to leave for Lebanon, told SOHR that he decided not to return to Syria under any conditions. The young man said “I sold my furniture in order to secure money for the trip which cost me over one million and a half Syrian liras in order to get rid of this nightmare –he means the disastrous living and security situations- in Tafas town in Daraa countryside in south Syria.”
Speaking to SOHR, a woman known as S. D. from Hama city said, “I decided to take my three children to Al-Beqaa area in Lebanon to join my husband who managed to secure a job opportunity, so that we can live away from the siege imposed on livelihood and the ‘ghost’ of starvation which chases us every day in Jarjisah town in the south of Hama.” The women also expressed her concerns about the growing kidnapping of civilians, who attempt to sneaking into Lebanon, by gangs headed by “Shujaa Al-Ali” who is close to the Lebanese Hezbollah and the 4th Division, as well as repression by the Lebanese general security service which has recently concentrated on prosecuting Syrians who have sneaked into Lebanon.
It is worth noting that nearly 100,000 to 150,000 Syrian people cross the border strip between Syria and Lebanon on a daily basis for sums of money that reach 100 USD each person paid to smugglers in return for helping them cross security checkpoints without being inspected or their criminal records being checked.