UN: 100,000 have already fled from Lebanon to Syria
Published: Monday, Sep 30th 2024, 11:30
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According to UN figures, around 100,000 people have already fled to Syria since the start of the massive Israeli airstrikes in the northern neighboring country of Lebanon. 60 percent are Syrians who had once sought refuge in Lebanon, 40 percent are Lebanese, reported the UN refugee agency UNHCR in Geneva.
Following the bomb attacks in Beirut on Friday, in which the leader of the Hezbollah militia, Hassan Nasrallah, among others, was killed, the number of refugees at the north-western border crossing towards Homs in Syria doubled, according to the UN. However, most people are fleeing via the border crossing around 70 kilometers southwest of Beirut towards Damascus.
In some cases, people had been waiting for days at the border crossing because Syria actually requires every person entering the country to exchange at least 100 dollars into the local currency. Many do not have this money. The rule has now been lifted for a week. According to the UNHCR, this has eased the situation.
Many of the new arrivals needed medical care due to a lack of drinking water and exhaustion, among other things, the organization reported. Together with partners, the aid organization is organizing accommodation, distributing food, mattresses, blankets and other relief supplies and helping those in need to continue their journey. 60 percent of those arriving are minors.
According to government figures, around 1.5 million Syrian refugees and other Syrians who are not refugees live in Lebanon. A civil war has been raging in Syria since 2011.
©Keystone/SDA
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