Refugees pay the high price of Lebanese cost-cutting

30 Apr 2015

Lebanon's huge intake of Syrian refugees has left the most vulnerable open to exploitation due to scant resources.

Almost two million refugees must find their own shelter wherever possible [Nour Samaha/Al Jazeera]

Jaharriyeh refugee camp, Lebanon - The Jaharriyeh refugee camp in El Marj sits in a picturesque part of Lebanon's Bekaa valley; snowcapped mountains soar above the distant horizon, while the sound of children at play is punctuated by the noise of helicopters.

Inside the camp, the rattle of plastic sheets used as roofing provides a constant background soundtrack. But here in Lebanon, refugees are forced to pay ever-increasing rents to stay in the camp,  resident Jihad Masarber said.

"Rent started at $200 a year. Then it was $30 a month, then $40," he told Al Jazeera. "Now it's $50 a month, but that's just to rent the spot. We have to pay at least $50, maybe even $75 for power."

Mustafa, Jihad's brother, chimed in: "Then there's water - that's around $40 per month."