The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local non-profit, non-partisan Lebanese human rights organization in Beirut that was established by the Franco-Lebanese Movement SOLIDA (Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily) in 2006. SOLIDA has been active since 1996 in the struggle against arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and the impunity of those perpetrating gross human violations.

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March 6, 2012

The Daily Star - Syrian refugees tell of fleeing home without basic provisions, March 6, 2012


By Rakan al-Fakih

AL-QAA, Lebanon: The border crossing in the town of Masharih Al-Qaa in the northern Bekaa was calm Monday, as the flow of people, as well as the sounds of shelling and gunfire, ceased.
But dozens of Syrian families who fled their villages into Lebanon over the weekend, many with only the clothes they were wearing, are now facing harsh conditions.
The families said they fled their homes after their villages were shelled by tanks and artillery during clashes between units of the Syrian army and defectors, made up of 300 soldiers, three officers and several tanks.
Residents of the Syrian villages were woken at 6 a.m. Sunday to the sounds of shelling and gunfire, and had to leave their homes without taking any clothes or basic provisions with them, they said.
After crossing the border, the Lebanese Army surrounded them, detaining a few dozen young men. All were later released except for seven: five Syrian army defectors, a teacher, and another man. The displaced Syrians added that the soldiers had thrown away their weapons before entering Lebanese territory because they did not want to fight anyone.
Abu Ahmad, 50, who fled the village of Zrarieh, which is located around 2 kilometers from the border, said that he is currently sharing one room with 20 other Syrians. There is only one blanket for every two people and they have neither medicine nor baby formula.
“We left our homes unlocked and didn’t even bring any clothes with us because we were terrified that the Syrian army units would not hesitate to kill us for any reason,” Abu Ahmad said.
A man from the Amer family said: “We only want to live in peace in our villages and neighborhoods and we don’t want to confront the regime’s forces because we are only civilians.”
A resident of Masharih al-Qaa – who preferred not to give his name for fear that his home could be raided by the Lebanese Army – said that he was sheltering five Syrian families at his own expense.
The resident expressed anger at the Syrian army, especially for their treatment of the families.
“How can the Syrian army, whose role is to protect the people, fire at women and children as they are fleeing in fear?” the resident asked.
He expressed his anger that the Syrian army was “arresting women and children and asking for their IDs while they’re barefoot.”
According to the resident, most of the displaced Syrian families are staying in the Bekaa and in north Lebanon, although a small number had returned to Syria to check on their homes.
Four wounded Syrian refugees were transferred to hospitals in north Lebanon by Red Cross teams Monday evening, the National News Agency reported. According to the agency, the refugees had entered Lebanon through the border town of Masharih al-Qaa.


http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Mar-06/165661-syrian-refugees-tell-of-fleeing-home-without-basic-provisions.ashx#axzz1oM3eP0Kk

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