Snow worsens misery for Syrian refugees

A winter storm sweeping past the eastern Mediterranean has brought more misery for Syrian refugees.

Families living in makeshift camps in the Lebanese town of Zahle were shivering in their tents, under heavy snow.

Oum Mohammed says she does not even have blankets for her nine children. And they have no proper shelter, nor food.

More than 800,000 Syrians have fled to Lebanon, and the demand for housing is far outpacing the supply. Many are forced to live in tents or unused buildings.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REFUGEE, OMAR, SAYING:

"Believe me, the situation is so bad, we need diesel, tents. No one offered us any help."

In Syria -- amateur video said to be filmed in Homs shows a street destroyed by shelling, blanketed in snow. Gunfire could still be heard in the background.

Children were out in the street, and a snowman had been built.

Reuters cannot independently verify these images.

The storm could last until Saturday, with tempe