Lebanon Urges World to Address Syrian Crisis, Displacement
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Roshan Amiri
- . December 14, 2023
- . Update: December 14, 2023 3:09 pm
Caught in the middle, with conflict in Syria and Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, Lebanon says it will not remain idle. Alarmed about the ongoing Syrian crisis and the displacement of millions of people, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the international community to help address the Syrian crisis.
He called on the world countries to put Syria on their list of priorities and participate in the challenge of tackling Syrian displacement. “Lebanon is concerned about the increasing numbers of displaced Syrians. Lebanon is unable to bear more refugees amid the current severe economic crisis.”
Mikati said Lebanon will not remain idle and suffer successive crises and be considered as alternative homelands. “Rather, we will save our homeland, and we will fortify ourselves. Because we have the right, first and foremost, to live in our country with pride and dignity.”
Lebanon Under Pressure
The Lebanese Prime Minister highlighted that the country is already suffering under enormous burdens. This includes the pressure of the millions of displaced Syrians and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
“The challenges we face as a result of this displacement go beyond the economic and social aspects, to affect societal security, and the destabilization of the sensitive demographic composition in terms of the number of Syrian births exceeding Lebanese births, and the high rate of crime and overcrowding in prisons.”
Mikati said competition for limited job opportunities has also led to increased tensions and security incidents. He put forth proposals to adopt a practical classification that distinguishes between Syrian workers and immigrants in their capacity as refugees. Mikati wants a national mechanism to be established, to determine the legal status of every displaced Syrian in Lebanon.
Employers, in the private sector, should oblige to adhere to the conditions for employing Syrian workers in an effort to reduce competition with Lebanese talent. The Lebanese leader also wants to make constructive efforts in ensuring the safe return of displaced Syrians to their country, with the implementation of legal, security, economic and social guarantees.
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Lebanon Has Done its Bit
Facing economical crisis, Lebanon can no longer bear the burden of the refugees. As such, it wants to help make refugees’ safe and dignified repatriation to Syria. Lebanon recorded a huge influx of Syrians in 2011 when the civil uprising broke out amid the Arab Spring movement in the Middle East.
According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, there are 1.5 million Syria refugees in Lebanon, wherein 950,000 are registered. Lebanon has left the responsibility for the refugees to the UN, international and local non-governmental organizations.
To keep its population safe, Lebanon rejected any form of local integration or permanent settlement of refugees.
