Lebanon is set to resume the process of returning Syrian refugees to their homeland, announced Lebanese caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Sharafeddine, citing the economic, social, educational, and security burdens posed by the influx of Syrian refugees into the country.
In remarks to the media on Tuesday, Sharafeddine stated that Lebanon would restart the convoy operations to repatriate Syrian refugees, a process initiated two years ago. The minister highlighted the immense scale of the Syrian refugee population in comparison to Lebanon’s own demographic figures.
“There are around 2.2 million Syrians, while the Lebanese population is 4.5 million,” Sharafeddine added
Sharafeddine emphasized that this decision comes amidst a severe economic crisis in Lebanon, exacerbating the existing economic, environmental, social, educational, and security challenges.
The Lebanese government’s move to resume repatriation efforts reflects the mounting strain caused by the economic and social repercussions of hosting a significant number of Syrian refugees.
