Riachi Launches Campaign to Mitigate Tension over Refugees in Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Minister of Information Melhem Riachi launched on Thursday a media campaign devised to mitigate the growing tension in the Lebanese community as the result of hosting scores of Syrian refugees.
"There is a problem which we need to resolve. We need to prevent tension between the Lebanese people and the Syrian refugees,” said Riachi in a press conference he held in the presence of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag.
"There is a pressing need of an overarching media campaign to raise awareness over the relation between the hosts and the guests," he added, pointing out that the United Nations announced its support for the campaign.
For her part, Kaag, hailed Riachi's efforts as "a positive message that construes Lebanon's capacity and resilience.”
She stressed: “The international community must hear the suffering of Lebanon which is hosting the displaced with an open heart, generosity and hospitality.
"There is tension between the Lebanese and Syrian refugees; this rivalry is manifest at the job market," said Kaag.
"We want to treat the refugees in a proper way and we want for them to return to their country," she added.
"Dialogue must be promoted and launched; and media means have a very important role in that regard," she continued.
"We want to collaborate with the civil society. The goal is Lebanon's prosperity and the integrity of its territories," she concluded.
More than one million Syrians are registered with the United Nations as refugees in Lebanon, a country of just four million people.
03 August 2017, 14:18
02
Most lebanese live outside of lebanon. Many commit crimes in their host countries. How many lebanese who fled the civil war returned to lebanon?
There is no need to be racist and selfish. 100 years ago lebanese were pretty much syrians. Lebanese nationalism did not exist back then nor was it able to stop thousands and thousands of lebanese from becoming murdered/tortured/injured at the hands of another lebanese.
Fear God and be good to his creation, especially the poor, abused and suffering and immigrants. We are all the children of Adam and Eve. God helps those who help others. Obviously confirmed terrorists and trouble makers from all backgrounds should be punished but that should be done without racism and injustice.
03 August 2017, 17:08
20
How can we help others when we cannot help ourselves ? I understand the concerns of racism and unjust treatment, but even if these did not exist the situation is one that can only improve for everyone 1. if the refugees returned to their homes or 2. If we had a massive influx of cash to build infrastructure, create jobs and properly accommodate them. We know #2 is not happening anytime soon.
It's unfortunate that Lebanon has the bear the socioeconomic brunt of that terrible war when others have instigated it.
03 August 2017, 18:09
00
there's no need to build more homes and infrastructure, however there's a need to control the birth rate. There should be a ceiling and any family crossing that number of 2 children per couple = no citizenship and rights for the other kids.
03 August 2017, 17:35
02
Lebanon is a founding member of the UN. While Syria is not. Syria is an uneducated country. If you like them, in the same way as the "Ta7ya Suriya" go and live there happily ever.
Your friend Melhem was one of them...
03 August 2017, 18:07
00
Founding member of the UN as well as the Arab League. Syria is an uneducated country just like Southern Lebanon is... because only uneducated people choose darkness over light, dictatorship and theocracy over real democracy.
Historically speaking though, Baalbeck and its region should have remained part of Syria during the independence, but we certainly aren't going to complain for the "bonus" we got. But Syria lost Antioch as well... which was historically Syrian, people there now speak Turkish.... in other words Syrians are losers!
