Lebanese security to return Syrian refugees from Lebanon
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The General Directorate of Public Security of Lebanon announced on Monday the “voluntary return” of Syrian refugees starting from Tuesday.
The directorate said it is securing the voluntary return of the Syrians from Lebanon to Syria through the al-Qaa and Arsal border posts on the Syrian-Lebanese border tomorrow, Tuesday, starting at five in the morning.
Figures released by the government of Lebanon in December 2023 estimate that the country hosts approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees, of whom 800,000 are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In a report published in April, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Lebanese authorities have unlawfully arrested, mistreated, and forcibly deported Syrian refugees back to Syria.
“Lebanese authorities have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and forcibly returned Syrians to Syria in recent months, including opposition activists and army defectors,” the HRW added.
On Sunday, Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai expressed disappointment over “the lack of cooperation of European and international countries with Lebanon” on the issue of Syrian refugees present in the country.
He added that “They [European and international countries] burden Lebanon with this heavy load and its very dangerous consequences, not realizing that they are preparing criminals and terrorists, and these countries will be their theater before others.”