Lebanon says EU aid for Syrian refugees ‘inadequate’
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib said today, June 15, that Lebanon is in need of more aid so that the country does “not turn into a massive refugee camp in the Mediterranean.”
Since 2011, Lebanon’s Syrian refugee population has grown to 2 million; the country itself has a population of about 5.6 million.
“Lebanon is facing political and economic issues that are enlarged by the presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon despite the donor countries’ support to Lebanon,” Bou Habib added.
“There are invisible costs incurred by Lebanon due to their presence. Our economy is already burdened by diverting resources to support Syrian refugees in Lebanon,” he said. Lebanon’s economy has been in a death spiral over the past year, as its currency has lost about 90% of its value compared to the dollar.
“The international community’s support is inadequate and we call for greater support from donor countries, the international community, and the European Union,” Bou Habib demanded at a EU conference Syria held in Brussels today.
Lebanon has been criticized by international NGOs for forcefully deporting dozens of Syrians. Many are handed directly to Syrian security forces. Some are arrested or disappear.
On May 27, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) recently announced it would host Syrian refugees deported from Lebanon. A dedicated camp was established near Raqqa.
At the same conference in Brussels, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced his country would continue to host and welcome Syrians. Around 260,000 Syrians reside in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.