Aid organisation Oxfam warned on Monday that the warmer weather will increase health-related risks for hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, and appealed for urgent funds.
With temperatures set to soar up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), and as refugees continue to flee to Jordan and Lebanon, “the health risks must be urgently addressed,” Oxfam said in a statement.
“Increased cases of public health-related diseases such as diarrhoea and skin infections have already been recorded in host communities and temporary settlements where an increasing number of refugees now live,” it added.
Oxfam said it is “crucial to ensure funds are in place to provide refugees with shelter, clean water and adequate sanitation,” adding that it is aiming to raise $53.4 million (41.6 million euros) over the next year.
So far Oxfam’s appeal is only 23 percent funded, the statement said.
