Lebanese Ministry of Information
Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Mouin Merehbi Monday insisted that Lebanon’s borders are “open” for the return of refugees in coordination with the United Nations, but not with the Syrian government.
“The Syrian regime is criminal,” Merehbi said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5). “Calls to coordinate with the Syrian government in order to solve the refugee crisis is an invitation to refloat the criminal regime that to this day still has some of Lebanon’s finest youth detained.”
Merehbi has previously called on the United Nations to play a crucial role in the swift return of Syrian refugees.
“Lebanon, as everyone knows, is not the country of ultimate asylum; [it] rejects complete resettlement and insists on the safe return of the displaced people to Syria when conditions permit, under the direct care of the United Nations,” the minister said in late May.
Meanwhile, Future MP Ammar Houri said in an interview Monday on Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that Lebanese politicians have reached an “understanding” on solving the refugee crisis.
“There is an understanding between [political] forces on solving the displaced Syrians’ case, as we wait on what happens inside Syria,” he said.
The Lebanese government estimates that around 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in unofficial camps around the country.
UNHCR has 1.03 million Syrian refugees officially registered in Lebanon.
