Lebanon’s Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour presented the public with a dire warning regarding the repercussions that the Syrian refugee crisis could have on the country.
“If the situation [does not improve], I am worried that we might be leading Lebanon toward social and economic self-destruction,” Abu Faour was quoted as saying by the National News Agency on Thursday during a meeting he held with a delegation of European MPs.
“The issue is no longer only about the Syrian and Palestinian refugees, but is now concerned with Lebanon’s stability, since the pressures that are being felt as a result of this crisis are beyond the national government’s ability to [handle].”
Lebanon is facing difficulties dealing with the increasingly high number of refugees fleeing Syria’s violent uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, which has left more than 60,000 people dead since its outbreak in March of 2011.
Differences of opinion have since emerged on how to best manage the situation, with some politicians close to the March 8 group calling for a closing of the border with Syria, while others, affiliated with the March 14 opposition movement, have dismissed this proposal and urged for more humanitarian aid to be provided to the displaced.
This enduring humanitarian crisis also prompted representatives of various countries to meet in Kuwait in January at an emergency International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria.
The international donors have pledged a total of more than $1.5 billion in aid for affected Syrians.
