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Syrian refugee women and children working in the fields, harvesting potatoes in a farm earning four dollars a day in Bekaa -Lebanon

At the end of the work day, the landlord makes sure that all the harvested potatoes are loaded in the truck to be shipped to the market.

The Middle East was hit by a major storm last week. The extreme conditions pose a continued serious threat to vulnerable families, particularly those living in sub-standard shelters such as tents, huts and makeshift buildings in the Bekaa Valley and Akkar. These areas experience harsher winter conditions due to their geographical position, altitude and temperature variation. Vulnerable children have been struggling to cope – and even survive – as the winter storm Zina brought unrelenting freezing winds, heavy rains, snow and temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius in Bekaa.

A core group of INGO's working in Lebanon, including Save The Children, have launched a major campaign to raise awareness about the urgent humanitarian situation in Lebanon. The campaign which was coordinated by the LHIF and the core working group includes a website, info-graphics and abundant social media traffic. The campaign coincides with the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan that the UN is launching this week.

For an emerging filmmaker to be selected to take part in an international film festival is a great achievement. It is an even bigger achievement when a child who had to leave school and work on the streets gets selected to participate in a recognized worldwide movie festival.