Wadi Khaled (Arabic: وادي خالد) is a region in the district of Akkar, on the borders of northeastern Lebanon.[1]
Wadi Khaled
وادي خالد | |
|---|---|
  Wadi Khaled Location within Lebanon | |
| Coordinates: 34°37′09″N 36°22′42″E / 34.619055°N 36.37835°E | |
| Country |  Lebanon |
| Governorate | Akkar Governorate |
| District | Akkar District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 370 m (1,210 ft) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Total | 41,000 Lebanese and 31,000 Syrian refugees |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Dialing code | +06 |
In Wadi Khaled, it is hot in summer, cold in winter and humid in all seasons. The altitude of this region is between 370 meters (El Msalabieh) and 700 meters (Hneider). It is 175 km from Beirut and 70 km from Tripoli.
There are 27 villages in Wadi Khaled, with Al-Amayer being the most populous.[2]
History
editThe population of Wadi Khaled has long been stateless, particularly due to the residents' non-participation in the 1932 Lebanese population census, despite having inhabited the area for centuries. The majority of the inhabitants of the region obtained Lebanese nationality in 1994, thanks to the decree of naturalization n°5247, however there remain an estimated 1,600 stateless people in this region today.[3] The national youth forum in Wadi Khaled was the first to ask for the naturalization of the inhabitants of the village as well as several solidarity and social movements and supporters.
During the Syrian civil war, tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, mainly Sunni families, crossed the border to settle in the region.[4]
In July 2022, fighting emerged between two rival families from neighboring localities. At least one person was killed and several more injured by gunfire.[5] The military then intervened and raided the homes of those involved and arrested several.[6]
References
edit- ^ El-Asmar, Joudy (2019-06-25). "Wadi Khaled: bordering Syria and Lebanon". Mashallah News. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
- ^ Al-Assaad, Yacoub (2023-01-07). "Wadi Khaled" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "Northern Lebanon: people of Wadi Khaled have to choose between feeding their kids or taking them to the doctor". MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES - MIDDLE EAST. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
- ^ "Syrian War Overtakes Lebanese Valley". Al-Monitor. 25 May 2013.
- ^ Hallak, Michel (2022-07-27). "Fighting reignites in Wadi Khaled". L'Orient Today. Archived from the original on 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "Ending a family conflict, residences raided in Wadi Khaled". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
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