Cases of skin diseases, exacerbated by summer heat and dirty water, are increasing among Syrian refugee children sheltering in crammed, unhygienic settlements in north Lebanon, sources told The Daily Star Wednesday.
More than 30 cases of fungi and other derma infections have been reported in the past two weeks alone in the town of Kharbet Daoud in Akkar, according to Monzer Hasan, a local official.
Elevated summer temperatures, high humidity and dirty water increase risks of an outbreak of skin diseases -- especially among young refugee children living in mostly damp, crammed shelters with poor exposure to sunlight.
Monzer warned against a proliferation of the communicable diseases among the existing nine refugee settlements in the town, which he said is bound to worsen in summer.
He complained that pre-summer warnings by medics and health officials were ignored by the authorities and humanitarian associations assisting Syrian refugees.
