Lebanon’s crackdown on Syrian refugees deemed “illegal” within its borders is intensifying amidst its most severe financial crisis to date. With over a million Syrians seeking refuge in Lebanon for more than ten years, fleeing the relentless conflict in Syria, the country’s capacity to accommodate them is strained.
Recent reports from the Lebanese government’s news agency NNA shed light on state security agents conducting raids in the Batroun district, targeting Syrians without “proper documentation.” Residents in areas like Kubbe, Bustan al Assi, and Kfifan were given a stark ultimatum: vacate their homes and the area within 48 hours. This move raises significant concerns about the fate of displaced families and the selective enforcement, limited to Batroun, sparking speculation about potential political motivations tied to the presence of Hezbollah factions.
The directive for these operations stemmed from North Lebanon’s governor, Ramzi Nohra, following instructions from Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, a vocal advocate for the deportation of Syrian refugees. Despite Lebanon’s population hovering around five million, it hosts approximately one and a half million Syrians, a considerable portion of whom lack official refugee status. Moreover, reports of violence targeting Syrians have surged, accompanied by a troubling trend of political scapegoating, attributing various criminal incidents to Syrian refugees.
As Lebanon endeavors to secure increased EU funding for the management of Syrian refugees, particularly with the upcoming EU-hosted Syria conference in Brussels, tensions over the plight of undocumented Syrians and the broader refugee crisis in the country continue to escalate.