Najib Mikati, the acting Prime Minister of Lebanon, has expressed concern over the increasing numbers of Syrian refugees and the country’s inability to accommodate more, especially amidst its severe economic and financial crisis.
Mikati’s comments were made during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the UN headquarters in New York.
Mikati expressed gratitude to the United Nations for its continuous support to Lebanon in various areas. Additionally, he thanked the Secretary-General for supporting Lebanon during the renewal of the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) last month.
Mikati reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to international resolutions, urging the UN to aid Lebanon in stopping Israeli infringements on its sovereignty.
During the meeting, Guterres reiterated the UN’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Lebanese people and praised Lebanon’s generosity in hosting Syrian refugees. He also pledged to collaborate with donor countries to increase assistance to Lebanon’s most impoverished families and to address the refugee crisis.
