Aoun from Rome Says Displaced Syrians Putting Burden on Lebanon
President Michel Aoun announced on Friday that Lebanon is bearing the burden of the displaced Syrians on its territory which has amounted to more than half the number of its own population.
“No country in the entire world is capable of affording this along with the economic and security repercussions,” Aoun said, pointing out that the number of displaced Syrians have grown to more than %50 of the Lebanese population.
More than one 1.5 million Syrians have sought refuge in Lebanon from the devastating conflict in their homeland that has killed more than 310,000 people.
Addressing the Lebanese community during a reception at the Maronite School, the President referred to the economic situation and said: “The Lebanese crisis is relatively stable because the economic cycle was launched after the presidential election, but the global crises still reflect on the country.”
Lebanon is home to more than one million registered Syrian refugees -- equal to about a quarter of the country's 4.5 million people. It's the highest refugee population in the world per capita.
Lebanon says that another half a million Syrians live in the country as well, unregistered, and officials say their presence has generated a severe burden that Lebanon can no longer handle alone.
Source: Naharnet
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