Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rahi, on Saturday, said that "Syrian refugees are competing with the Lebanese workers, thus we cannot let our people abandon their homeland for the sake of being humanitarian with them."

 

Rahi, whose words came during a pastoral visit to Zahle-Moallaka Municipality, added that "Syria is 18 times larger than Lebanon and foreign countries are only concerned with their political agenda."

"We have to work all together for their return to their country, not only because of the economic deterioration, but also for the security chaos, assaults and robberies that shake our country," he went on.

"International institutions cannot enter the areas of refugee presence and deal with the displaced without going through the municipalities," Rahi concluded

Source: NNA