Amnesty International has stressed the necessity for any funds pledged to support Syrian refugees in Lebanon at the “Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” not to contribute to human rights violations, including forced deportations to Syria.
In a statement released on Monday, the organization stated that the Lebanese General Security has taken comprehensive new measures against Syrian refugees, intensifying raids, arrests, and deportations, shortly after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €1 billion aid package to Lebanon, partly allocated to support security agencies.
Ayat Magedoub, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office at the organization, urged donor countries to pressure Lebanese authorities to immediately halt their “unprecedented repressive campaign” against Syrian refugees and lift the “arbitrary measures” aimed at pressuring them to leave the country.
Magedoub stated, “In solidarity with Lebanon, European countries should increase the number of resettlement operations for Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon.”
The Lebanese government recently denied rumors of receiving “European bribes” in exchange for keeping Syrian refugees in Lebanon, stating that European aid to the country is unconditional, following the European Union’s announcement of providing $1 billion to Lebanon to assist in hosting Syrian refugees.
The announcement of the massive European aid to Lebanon came in the wake of a widespread campaign of attacks targeting Syrian refugees in the past few weeks.
