Lebanon: My country cannot cope with this

About 1.5 million refugees live in Lebanon. Now the president is calling for help from other countries. People must be brought into more secure areas.

Lebanon:   My country cannot cope with this

Lebanon, according to its own data, is overwhelmed by number of civil war refugees from neighbouring country of Syria. "My country can no longer cope with this," said President Michel Aoun on Monday at a meeting with representatives of EU, Arab League and UN Security Council according to his office. Even without a political solution to Syrian conflict, return of refugees to stable and less dangerous areas must be started, said Aoun on Twitter.

There are now 1.5 million refugees living in Lebanon. They make up a quarter of population. The Syrians are Palestinian refugees, some of whom have been living in country for decades. Syrian refugees are not allowed to work in Lebanon, but y do not have any accommodation or financial support from state. They are refore dependent on undeclared work or supply of aid.

Some Lebanese politicians fear tensions between predominantly Sunni Syrians and indigenous Shiites and Christians. In Lebanon, a strict proportional system governs political representation of denominations. Muslims and Christians must be represented in Parliament in relation to 1:1. The president's post is reserved for a Christian after an unwritten rule, while Sunnis place prime minister.

President Aoun had been elected president in October 2016. He is considered an ally of Shiite Hezbollah militia. Before that, Lebanon was more than two years without government, because parties could not agree on a candidate.

Five million Syrians fleeing

The war in Syria began in March 2011 with protests against President Bascharal-Assad, who were forcibly prevented by army. In addition to moderate rebels, a large number of Islamist groups are also fighting Assad. Russia and USA are also involved in battles. The terrorist militia "Islamic State", which had conquered large parts of country, is about to lose its factual capital Rakka to rebel alliance of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The neighbouring countries of Syria have taken up brunt of displaced people of civil War. According to government, 1.3 million Syrian refugees also live in Jordan. In total, more than five million Syrians are on run.

Date Of Update: 17 October 2017, 12:03
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