Syria’s AANES ready to receive refugees from Lebanon’s Miniyeh Camp
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, a senior official in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) expressed the administration’s willingness to receive Syrian refugees from Miniyeh camp in Lebanon after the camp was set on fire.
On Saturday, a dispute between Lebanese and Syrian workers in Miniyeh, in Lebanon’s north, resulted in a number of Lebanese locals burning tents belonging to Syrian refugees.
More than 300 refugees were forced to flee their camp, and at least four of them were transferred to the hospital, United Nations and Lebanese officials said Sunday.
A large fire had broken out in a camp which housed about 75 families in the Miniyeh region, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Activists on social media circulated videos showing the massive fire that devastated the refugee camp and left hundreds homeless.
Co-chair of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration Berivan Khalid described the incident as “sorrowful and sad,” and held the Syrian government and opposition responsible for the current condition of the Syrian people.
“The intransigence of the Syrian regime and the association of the opposition with regional countries is the main reason for what happens to Syrians inside and outside the country,” Khalid said.
Khalid hoped that stability would prevail in the area so that the displaced and refugees can live in safety. “It is time to put guns aside and turn to dialogue between patriotic Syrians,” she added.
Khalid called on countries sponsoring Syrian refugees to fulfill their humanitarian obligations towards those fleeing the war.
Lebanon says it hosts some 1.5 million Syrians, including about 1 million registered as refugees with the United Nations.
The Lebanese Authorities have called for refugees to return to Syria, even though rights groups warn that the war-torn country is not yet safe.