Syrian refugees: Lebanon says it has reached the end of what it could bear

A Syrian family in a refugee camp in Sidon, southern Lebanon, in January 2022. AP - Mohammad Zaatari

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1 min

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Monday, June 20, that Lebanon, which hosts more than a million Syrians, the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, would expel them if the international community does not did not help repatriate them.

Beirut is plunged into an unprecedented crisis, which has destroyed its economy and impoverished its population.

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Paul Khalifeh

Known for his moderation and his good relations with Western countries, Najib Mikati did not mince his words on Monday.

He called on " 

the international community to cooperate with Lebanon to repatriate the displaced Syrians

 ", " 

otherwise, Beirut will take a decision which is not desirable for Western countries, namely the expulsion of Syrians

 ".

"

 Eleven years after the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Lebanon is no longer able to bear such a burden

 ," warned the head of government.

The Minister of Social Affairs echoed him.

Hector Hajjar mentioned the launch, " 

in the coming days

 ", of an initiative for the return of Syrian refugees.

Recalling that Lebanon " 

respects the principle of non-refoulement 

", he stressed that " 

the situation is no longer tenable 

" for the country of cedars.

A ministerial source told RFI that at the top of the measures that Lebanon intends to adopt is the reactivation of the " 

voluntary return process for displaced Syrians

 ".

Suspended last year, this initiative implemented in coordination with the authorities in Damascus, but frowned upon by Western countries, had enabled the repatriation of several thousand Syrian nationals.

►Read again: In Lebanon, Syrians who fled Belarus recount the unbearable tragedy

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  • Lebanon

  • Najib Mikati

  • Syria

  • International Migrations