Editors Note: The following story was edited March 9 at 10:30 U.S. Eastern Standard Time.

The civil war in Syria has been raging since early 2011. Since then, thousands of residents have fled to Lebanon to seek refuge. Currently, the nation of Lebanon has the highest population density of foreign refugees worldwide. Many refugee families live in Beirut and its surrounding area. This region not only has a high unemployment rate, but also a high cost of living.

The longer the crisis continues, the greater people suffer. In 2014, 49 percent of registered Syrians in Lebanon lived under the poverty line. In 2015, it shot up to 70 percent. There is no improvement in sight, on the contrary. The cost of living is constantly rising as is the unemployment rate. The hardships are especially felt during the winter, when the region experiences rain, cold and snow. This is a crucial time when families need additional funds to buy blankets, warm clothes and fuel, but money to purchase these necessities are often unavailable. 

Over the last few months, from January to March, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Switzerland, along with its partners ADRA International, ADRA Norway, ADRA Netherland and ADRA Canada have given 180 Syrian families, 28 Lebanese families and 72 Iraqi families in Beirut $100 U.S. dollars a month to help families survive the region's winter months. 

The monthly allowance for the families is loaded on an e-card. One person per family is also given information on managing the family's monthly budget. If additional assistance is needed, ADRA workers also visit families to explain the e-card in more details.