Fire Engulfs "Riyaq Camp" for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa
The camp fire incident refocuses attention on the chronic suffering of Syrian refugees and the absence of effective international protection, while the camp's burning compounds the tragedy of Syrian d
October 23, 2024, 10:33 pm

اللاجئين السوريين

The Syrian refugee camp in the Riyaq area of Bekaa was engulfed by a massive fire that consumed all tents and possessions, creating a new humanitarian disaster adding to the series of tragedies facing refugees in Lebanon.

The fire has displaced dozens of Syrian families who lost their last refuge and modest possessions, amid the absence of any effective official response from local authorities or international organizations.

Concerns are mounting about the disaster's impact on children, women, and the elderly, especially with the approaching winter season and the lack of alternative options for the affected families.

This tragedy reveals the fragile conditions of refugees in informal camps, where they lack basic safety and protection standards, amid deliberate neglect from the international community.

The affected families face an uncertain fate after losing shelter and possessions, especially amid escalating living pressures and racial incitement campaigns against refugees in Lebanon.

This disaster compounds the suffering of Syrian displaced persons who fled the hell of war in their country, only to find themselves caught between the hammer of racism and the anvil of neglect in their country of asylum.

This incident serves as a new warning bell about the necessity for international community action to protect refugees and provide safe housing that preserves their human dignity, rather than leaving them prey to disasters and risks in informal camps, especially amid the current military conflict between Israel and the Iran-aligned Hezbollah organization in Lebanon.

Levant-Follow up

Wing War in "Assad's Parliament" Targets Ruling Party Figures and Businessmen Hezbollah Official Confirmation: Hashem Safi Al-Din Meets Nasrallah's Fate

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”