Thousands flee from Lebanon to Syria
Published: Wednesday, Sep 25th 2024, 14:10
العودة إلى البث المباشر
According to the UN, the heavy Israeli attacks in Lebanon are driving thousands of people to flee to Syria. These are not only Syrians who once fled to Lebanon to escape the civil war in their home country, but also Lebanese, reports the UN refugee agency UNHCR in Geneva.
According to government figures, 1.5 million Syrian refugees and other Syrians who are not refugees live in Lebanon.
There are hundreds of cars with desperate people at the border. Many are also arriving on foot, with their few belongings in boxes and suitcases. Among them were women and small children. Some were injured in the attacks. They had spent the night in the open and had been waiting for hours at the border crossing.
"The Middle East cannot afford a new displacement crisis," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. "We must not provoke it by forcing even more people to leave their homes. Protecting the lives of the civilian population must take priority."
Humanitarian aid workers are providing people at the border with the most basic necessities. In Syria, the outlook for these people is bleak. Millions there are also dependent on aid due to the ongoing conflict between the government and rebel groups and the consequences of the devastating earthquake in 2023.
©كيستون/إسدا
Arabic 
English 
German 
French 
Spanish