Gemayel: Lebanon Facing New Occupation, Refugees Can Return to Safe Areas in Syria

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel warned Friday that Lebanon is facing what he called a “new occupation,” noting that the Syrian refugees must return to “safe areas” inside Syria.

“Lebanon is facing a new occupation, seeing as Bekaa's residents have become a minority compared to the number of refugees who are living on Bekaa's soil,” said Gemayel during a visit to the Bekaa city of Zahle.

“We cannot but raise the alarm to say that we can no longer tolerate this situation, seeing as there are safe areas in Syria and the refugees must return to their villages so that we can live in freedom and dignity in our country, and so that our youths can find jobs,” Gemayel added.

“It is true that we have a sense of humanity and we have offered the Palestinians and Syrians a lot, but that must not come at the expense of our people and future because Lebanon's interest must come first,” Kataeb's chief went on to say.

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.

More than two-thirds of Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in extreme poverty, according to a United Nations study.

To cope, families are pulling their children from school so that they can work. Only five percent of 15-17 year olds attended school in 2015.

Instead, many work in agricultural fields for as little as $4 a day.

More than four million refugees have fled Syria for the relative safety of the neighboring countries, according to the U.N. Millions more have been internally displaced.

Y.R.