Why Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Are Ready to Return Home

“Many Lebanese and Syrian organizations work in order to explain to Syrian refugees their rights. Women are subjected to exploitation and harassment. They are constantly verbally pestered in the streets and shops. They suffer from sexual violence and from other hidden forms of assaults such as forced early marriages. They also become victims of slave trade,” Hallak told Sputnik Arabic.

According to the lawyer, these female refugees are ready to return home as soon as the situation can be called, somewhat safe.

Furthermore, the refugees consider the issue of education to be the biggest problem. The lawyer said that according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees more than 50,000 Syrian refugee children do not have access to education for several reasons.

“Firstly, according to the Lebanese laws it is rather difficult for refugees to take admission in the schools. Secondly, they can only study during the second shift of the day from 2 p.m.to 7 p.m. Because of this, many girls cannot attend classes as it is difficult for their parents to organize a safe return of the kids back home,” Hallak said.

She further said that without schooling children become vulnerable and fall victim to such terrible cases as getting recruited into armed groups.

“We believe in the best despite the difficult conditions both in Syria and Lebanon. We hope that a peace agreement will be signed and it will give freedom to all Syrians so that we will be able to return to our homes,” the lawyer concluded.

There are more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon currently. 70% of them are women and children.