pm hariri lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

PM Hariri: Lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today PM Hariri: Lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri talks during a conference in Beirut
Beirut - Arab Today

Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said Lebanon was close to “breaking point” due to the strains of hosting 1.5 million Syrian refugees, and he feared unrest could spiral from tensions between them and Lebanese communities.

Refugees who fled the six-year-long conflict in neighboring Syria make up a quarter of Lebanon’s population, and most live in severe poverty in makeshift camps across the country as the government opposes the creation of formal ones.

“Today if you go around most of the host communities, there is a huge tension between the Lebanese and the Syrians... I fear civil unrest,” Hariri told journalists working for foreign media on Friday.

He will urge the international community to boost financial support for Lebanon at a conference on Syria in Brussels next week. “I am going ... to make sure that the world understands that Lebanon is on the verge of a breaking point,” he said.

Hariri said the country has been “extremely lucky in making sure this crisis has not affected host communities, but we have stretched our luck”.

The Syria war has weakened Lebanon’s economy, fueled tension among Lebanese allied to the rival sides, and triggered a number of jihadist attacks. But there has so far been no significant violence between Syrian refugees and Lebanese host communities.

Hariri urged the international community to commit to spending the equivalent of $10-12,000 per refugee over a period of five to seven years, compared to the current level of foreign support equivalent to $1-1,200 per year.

“I think that will make sure that Lebanon is going to stand on its own and the economy will thrive,” he said.

Georges Ghali, programs manager at Lebanese human rights organization ALEF, said the tensions were rooted in factors such as misperceptions held by Lebanese that refugees were being showered in aid, and government policies that had made it difficult for them to obtain official residency.

Tensions had not reached the point of violent escalation, Ghali added.

Lebanese officials, citing World Bank figures, say the cumulative cost of the Syrian conflict to Lebanon was $18.15 billion to the end of 2015. Lebanon’s annual economic growth has slowed to just over 1 percent from an average of 8 percent before the Syrian war, officials have said.

The government is seeking financial support for a program of public sector-led investment in infrastructure to boost the economy, and to increase the number of Syrians in education.

Hariri, a Saudi-allied Sunni politician, became prime minister in December in a political deal that saw Michel Aoun, an ally of the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, elected head of state.

Hezbollah, which is fighting in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad, is also part of the government.

source: Alarabiya

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

pm hariri lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees pm hariri lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

pm hariri lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees pm hariri lebanon at ‘breaking point’ due to refugees

 



GMT 10:12 2017 Friday ,03 November

Argentina call up Boca Juniors duo for Russia clash

GMT 23:39 2017 Tuesday ,04 July

Israel to allow fuel into Gaza on Sunday

GMT 14:43 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Jimmy Choo to launch Man ICE fragrance

GMT 15:16 2018 Thursday ,13 September

Activists open Khan Al-Ahmar gate which IOF had closed

GMT 06:59 2016 Friday ,15 April

Hamas bolsters Gaza’s Egypt border in bid

GMT 06:18 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

Japan raids firms over alleged maglev bid-rigging

GMT 12:27 2017 Thursday ,13 April

HH the Emir Meets South Africa's President

GMT 06:34 2017 Thursday ,14 December

Leonard returns but Spurs stumble; James leads Cavs rout

GMT 18:02 2017 Thursday ,05 October

Somali president arrives in Sudan on official visit

GMT 17:17 2013 Tuesday ,24 September

Best house furniture

GMT 08:38 2017 Wednesday ,03 May

US Senate confirms Jay Clayton as new SEC chief

GMT 11:50 2015 Saturday ,26 September

The Library of Fragrance announces January launches

GMT 12:24 2017 Monday ,06 November

Balotelli scores, is sent off in Nice win

GMT 19:52 2017 Sunday ,24 September

Istanbul derby delivers three goals, five red cards
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday