Lebanon Rids Itself Of Syrian Refugees 15000 Per Day

Human rights groups are not in favour of the callous manner in which Lebanon is trying to get rid of Syrian refugees in large numbers. The estimated repatriations are being estimated to 15000 a day.

In an interview with a Lebanese state news agency, the caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Charaffedine has said that the plans will continue despite UNHCR’s position on the whole thing.

Lebanon might have their reasons to do so as it is struggling with keeping its head above the waters. Its economy is not reviving and debts are mounting still. aptly being called a ‘troubled country’ struggling with a prolonged economic meltdown, hosts the Middle East’s highest number of Syrian refugees per capita. More than one million Syrians have sought refuge there, escaping a country racked by a decade of war.

While these reasons can justify as to why the Lebanese government is quickly repatriating the Syrian refugee population, in many years, the latter have only been seen as a scapegoat in the whole political turmoil.

Lebanese officials say struggling Lebanon cannot withstand the added pressure of a high concentration of refugees within its borders.  

On the flipside, UNHCR “continues to call on the government to respect the fundamental right of all refugees to a voluntary, safe and dignified return and the principle of non-refoulement”, a UNHCR statement has confirmed.