Fire ravages tent in Bekaa Syrian refugee camp

BEIRUT — A fire broke out Thursday in a Syrian refugee camp at the entrance to the village of al-Marj in the Bekaa Valley, destroying a tent. The blaze, reportedly caused by an electrical short-circuit, was quickly contained by Civil Defense teams, preventing it from spreading to nearby tents, according to local sources.

The fire, which erupted in the early hours of Thursday, gutted one of the tents in the camp, where many Syrian refugees live in vulnerable conditions. The swift response from Civil Defense teams ensured that the fire did not reach the other tents in the camp, averting further damage.

This incident follows a tragic event a month ago when a Syrian girl lost her life in a similar fire at a refugee camp in Kab Elias, also in the Bekaa. That fire destroyed two tents, highlighting the ongoing risks that Syrian refugees face in Lebanon's makeshift camps.

Living conditions for Syrian refugees in Lebanon remain precarious, with overcrowded camps and inadequate infrastructure leaving them susceptible to accidents and natural disasters. Authorities and humanitarian organizations continue to address these risks, but many refugees remain exposed to the dangers of their temporary shelters.