An increasing number of Syrian women refugees in Lebanon are turning to prostitution or what they describe as "survival sex", in order to secure money and food for their families, according to aid workers in the country.
"There are certain shelters that are known that the prostitution percentage is very high in these shelters, whether in Ain Helweh camp or in Sadaya, in different areas they are known. A lot of prostitution is taking place," said Rima Zaazaa of the Lebanese charity, Solidarity and Development.
Three-quarters of the refugees in Lebanon forced to leave Syria due to the ongoing civil war are women and children.
More than 600,000 Syrian refugees have been registered with the United Nations in the country and there are lot of unaccounted ones also in the country, according to the Lebanese government.
Since a lot of them are scattered throughout the country in makeshift shelters, abandoned buildings and rental accommodations, these women are often facing sexual harassment and being forced to trade their bodies with their landlords, store owners and even officials in their host country.
Meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry this month, a group of Syrian refugees in Jordan begged for Washington's intervention in ending the ongoing human crisis in Syria.
Kerry made a visit to Jordan during his sixth trip to the Middle East in a bid to hear first-hand accounts of the refugees from Syria.
The refugees expressed their outrage against Washington's inaction in ending the ongoing tragedy back in their home country.
"Mr. Secretary, if the situation remains unchanged until the end of Ramadan this camp will become empty. We will return to Syria and we will fight with knives.
"You as the U.S. government look to Israel with respect. Cannot you do the same with the children of Syria?" said the refugee.
Responding to the group, the secretary of state said "A lot of different options are under consideration. I wish it was very simple. As you know, we've been fighting two wars for 12 years. We are trying to help in various ways, including helping Syrian opposition fighters have weapons. We are doing new things. There is consideration of buffer zones and other things but it is not as simple as it sounds."
