The tragedy of Syrian displacement spreads in West Beqaa & Rashayya amidst government neglect

As Safir newspaper published an article on the impact of the Syrian displacement on host communities in the West Beqaa and Rashayya. The newspaper met with the president of the federation of municipalities in the region, Ibrahim Badran, who noted that the impact of displacement spread to several economic sectors.  He noted that services such as garbage collection are now accounting for 60% of the Federation’s budget. He also added that water pumping of four hours used to be sufficient for the residents of the area. However, the municipalities are now forced to pump twice as much. Furthermore, he said that some municipalities which provided electricity supply through private generators had to discontinue servicing the gatherings of displaced people as they no longer have the capacity, as in the case of Mansurah. He explained that the electricity grids are now likely to be misused by both residents and by the displaced. Badran warned the state not to ignore further the present crisis which is likely to become explosive. One relief official in Rashayya told As Safir that cheap Syrian labor now constitutes 85% of labor force in construction as well as in other sectors such as industries and refuse collection. He added that Syrian women now account for some 75% of salespeople in garment shops and other businesses. Furthermore, Syrian women are also present in nursing, administration, medical and engineering cabinets and in other liberal professions where they make up some 60% of the labor force. Agricultural investor Munir Hanna also referred to competition in agriculture where Syrian investors have pushed the cost of lease of agricultural land from USD 150 to 250 per dunum especially after concluding agreements with vegetables wholesalers in Qebb Elias who are providing them with money advances in return for future production. (As Safir, 24 April 2015)