Lebanese Scouts taking care of Syrian guests

Halba Village, Akkar Province, North Lebanon, 15th January 2014

Less than a hundred kilometres from the tragedies in Homs (Syria) the small village of Halba is host to many hundreds of “guests” from Syria – as the people of Halba call them – not refugees, but “guests” …

Such is the nature of the Lebanese people – with over 1.7 million “guests” swelling the country’s population to almost six million, the national economy is overstretched, the local community resources depleted with schools running double shifts – the Lebanese kids in the morning, with Lebanese national curriculum, and a second shift in the evening with Syrian curriculum for the “guests” …

And Halba is no different …

Saeed, the local Scout Leader who introduces fifty of the latest families to arrive ... describes their plight.   Fathers missing, or dead, mothers caring for children and elderly grandparents … left with the clothes on their backs … with a winter chill in the air that cuts through the flimsy clothes the kids have been left with … the faces might smile, but their eyes cannot hide the despair and bewilderment …

The event today is a welcome by the Scouts of Helba, who work as they have done for the last two years, singing, dancing and making these kids feel at home … its more of a mass “Hug” than a relief programme … because the Scouts also hand over tents, blankets, food and warm clothing as part of their programme “My Tent is Your Tent”.

Siegfried Weiser, Chairman of the World Scout Foundation, who has visited local Scout groups throughout Lebanon is impressed “ I am truly touched – by the friendliness, the love and care that these young Scouts show to their “guests” – you can see it’s authentic and real.  Despite themselves not having so much, they are willing to share!

Weiser and his team provided support to the Lebanese Scout Federation to help these families.  Thanks to their assistance, and the help of HM King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the local resources have been considerably increased – “but what is most valuable” ads Siegfried, “is not the money we hand over, it’s the volunteer time, and the love these young people share – they are truly “Messengers of Peace”, and we are proud of them!  We look forward to helping them in their work for as long as we can.  Thanks to King Abdullah, the smiles of these children can return!

See this news item on the Lebanese TV.