After a hiatus of approximately eighteen months, Lebanon has recommenced the process of repatriating Syrian refugees to their homeland.
This move coincides with the parliamentary debate over a proposed €1 billion aid package from the European Union, which has ignited concerns among various political and religious factions demanding a comprehensive solution to the refugee issue.
The subject of the over two million Syrian refugees, as estimated by Lebanese authorities, has become a focal point in the country.
This comes as the European Union announces a financial package and the Lebanese General Security orchestrates the departure of a convoy of 330 refugees back to Syria.
This event unfolded hours after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, urged Lebanese authorities to facilitate refugee passage to Europe via sea routes.
On the feasibility of voluntary repatriation, Luis Miguel Bueno, the European Union spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa, told Alarabiya.net/Alhadath.net, “The European Union does not oppose voluntary returns.
However, we want to ensure that all legal procedures are duly followed. We are reassured that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is involved in the voluntary return process with the General Security in Lebanon.”
The Syrian refugee dossier has recently become a hotbed of controversy in Lebanon, with the government led by Najib Mikati eager to repatriate them after nearly 13 years since the Syrian war began in March 2011 following public protests.
The refugee crisis has worsened, marked by crimes attributed to “Syrian gangs,” such as the April killing of Lebanese Forces official, Pascal Sleiman. This incident triggered violent acts against Syrian refugees across various Lebanese regions.
The refugee issue, long neglected, has sparked debate among various Lebanese forces. Nasrallah’s call for opening maritime borders to refugees aims to pressure Europe, reminiscent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s past tactics of leveraging refugee flows against Brussels.
Military analyst Said Gazzah commented, “Nasrallah’s call violates international laws and mimics Erdogan’s previous strategy to extort the European Union. While Hezbollah is expressing concern for the refugee issue, it should negotiate with its ally, the Syrian government, instead of using refugees as a bargaining chip with Europeans.”
Gazzah also pointed out that Hezbollah’s presence in areas like Qusair, Zabadani, and Rural Damascus, from which many refugees have fled, adds complexity to the issue. He suggests that Hezbollah should facilitate the return of refugees by withdrawing from these areas instead of exploiting the situation to pressure European stakeholders.
While the Lebanese authorities estimate the refugee count at around two million, the UNHCR registers only 850,000. The discrepancy underscores the challenges and sensitivities surrounding the management and repatriation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
