Beirut - Saba
The Minister of Social Affairs in Lebanon's caretaker government, Hector Hajjar, announced that preliminary figures indicate approximately 85,000 displaced individuals from Syria have entered the country, including 20,000 Lebanese nationals. He stressed that the situation is challenging.
During a tour in the town of Al-Qasr in the city of Hermel, Hajjar stated to "LBC" that there are approximately 65,000 Syrians in Lebanon. He mentioned that these individuals entered the country through illegal roads and crossings and are currently residing in 133 centers established by municipalities and husseiniyas, alongside representatives from UNHCR and UNICEF.
Hajjar pointed out that the reality of the shelters does not encourage survival, that the intervention of associations is primitive, and that it requires following up on their humanitarian situation first, calling on organizations, led by UNHCR, to take the initiative in securing food, drinking water and a minimum level of hygiene.
He said the situation at the centers was "more than tragic".
"The return of the former displaced Syrians to their country must begin within three months, and international institutions are present in Syria and able to help them," he said.
The Minister of Social Affairs in the Lebanese caretaker government called on General Security to start a survey of the newly displaced who entered Lebanon.
Earlier in the day, Lebanon's General Security issued a new circular to airlines at Rafic Hariri International Airport (Beirut Airport), imposing new restrictions on Syrians wishing to enter Lebanon.
The new circular imposed a ban on the entry of Syrians for the purpose of a business visit, study, or review with a foreign embassies, and the circular also prevented clerics, state employees, and members of various professional syndicates from entering the country.