Lebanese nationals set Syrian refugee child on fire

Lebanese nationals set Syrian refugee child on fire
A Syrian refugee child was set ablaze by two Lebanese nationals in Gaza village in al-Bekaa valley on Saturday (March 4), one of many incidents highlighting the plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Lebanese Weneldawle news outlet reported. 

Media outlets reported that a young man, Kamel al-Ladn, and another Lebanese national attacked the Syrian child – Ayham al-Majthoub from Damascus’ Zabadani city – without any apparent warning after Kamel saw Ayham filling his motorcycle with a flask filled with benzene.

They attacked Ayham and began beating him up before they poured the benzene-filled flask onto him and lit him on fire, leading the Syrian child to suffer severe burns.

Ayham was working a late night shift as a delivery boy of a Nargile place when the company motorcycle ran out of benzene in front of Kamel’s house. One of Ayham’s relatives lived nearby so he walked towards his relative’s motorcycle and took a benzene-filled flask from under the motorcycle chair when Kamel and the other man saw him and proceeded to attack him without prior notice.

Ayham’s screams woke up the neighborhood as they both stood by and watched the 15 year-old’s body wither away from the flames. One of the neighbors called the ambulance and Ayham was then transported to the hospital.

Lebanese authorities came to the scene and opened an investigation. However, a group governing the area – of which Kamel is an affiliate – interfered and pressured Ayham’s mother, Haifa Belmez, not to press charges and the case was closed.

However, photos of the 14 year-old laying on a hospital bed, skin damaged by the fire, soon trended on social media by Lebanese activists outraged at the incident, shed on Ayham’s dire situation.

Medical sources reported that the young Syrian is suffering from fourth-degree burns and is currently in a state of danger as he seeks treatment at a hospital in Beirut.

One of the neighbors told Rozana news outlet that "although the child’s family will not be pressing any charges on the two attackers due to fear of reprisals from certain groups and deportation threats, we will try our best to give this child his rights."

Haifa had mentioned to reporters that her family fled Zabadani three years ago and sought refuge in Gaza town and that their financial situation is very tight especially after her husband died of a stroke one year ago, prompting Ayham to quit school and find a job.

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