Ibrahim Inspects Masnaa Crossing to Oversee Implementation of Entry Measures

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim inspected on Monday the Masnaa crossing in the eastern Bekaa Valley between Lebanon and Syria.

The tour comes in light of a decision by the Lebanese state to impose entry measures against the Syrians.

“The measures taken against Syrians will continue despite criticism,” Ibrahim was quoted as saying to reporters.

“Any change regarding the measures depends on the state,” the official added.

Ibrahim met with officers at the crossing and the efforts exerted to implement the state's decision.

He also met with Syrians and other nationals crossing into Lebanon through the Masnaa and explained to them the circumstances that compelled such a decision.

Syria's ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdul Karim Ali, has said his country understood the new rules, but urged "coordination" with Damascus.

The entry restrictions are the first in the history of the two countries and come as Lebanon struggles to deal with more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

The influx has tested the country's limited resources, as well as the patience of its citizens, particularly as security has deteriorated.

For months, Lebanon's government has sounded the alarm, warning the international community that it could no longer deal with the influx.

Starting October, the government said Lebanon would stop accepting displaced Syrians, with exceptions on humanitarian grounds only.

A U.N. report said on Wednesday that Lebanon is hosting the largest number of new refugee arrivals between January and June 2014.

UNHCR said Lebanon shot up from being the 69th largest refugee-hosting country to second largest within just three and a half years.

The new rules raise the prospect of Syrians being unable to flee the violence that has killed more than 200,000 people since March 2011.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 3
Thumb EagleDawn 12 January 2015, 10:43

hateful eyes so clear in the picture... can't believe m8 bombarded this sectarian corrupt individual to head of general security position. they really have no shame!
*courtesy of mowaten

Thumb thefool 12 January 2015, 14:36

The Lebanese can't wait to see the number of refugees go down to 0. Each and Every refugee in Lebanon is a danger.

Missing coolmec 12 January 2015, 18:41

@the fool
you must be a fool to even think let alone expect the Syrian refugees will go down to 0. wishful thinking. we are stuck with them