Lebanon Opposes Permanent Settlement of Syrian Refugees in its Territory

BEIRUT – Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Basil said on Wednesday that the international community has a clear plan to keep Syrian refugees settled permanently in Lebanon, indicating that Lebanon would confront any such plan.

During a press conference in Beirut, Basil underlined that Lebanon should not allow the Syrians to become permanent refugees, as was the case with the Palestinians.

Basil added that the international community is responsible for the Syrian people’s suffering due to its negligence to solve the crisis, although he also blamed the Lebanese government for failing to distinguish between refugees fleeing war and refugees seeking more desirable economic situations.

Lebanese authorities have refused to set up refugee camps in order to prevent Syrians from permanently settling in its territories and have imposed increasing restrictions on Syrian nationals coming to Lebanon.

The Syrian conflict, which erupted in March 2011, has negatively affected the security situation in Lebanon: sectarian violence and terrorism is on the rise with more than a million Syrian refugees in the country, which in turn puts a heavy burden on the Lebanese economic and political situation.

 

 

LAHT.COM