“Lebanon’s Security Situation and Minister of Interior’s Measures to Prevent Demonstrations”

The economic crisis that Lebanon is going through has exacerbated the dispute, which has begun to take on a sectarian nature, over the situation of the displaced Syrians, between those who demand their return after the security situation has stabilized in many Syrian regions, and those who refuse such return, on the pretext that its conditions are not available at the present time. Among the naysayers are Lebanese politicians and international organizations.

The economic crisis reinforces concerns about the security situation, as the complaints of Lebanese citizens are exacerbated by the financial facilities that the displaced Syrian gets, which are not available to them, which provides the Syrian worker with better opportunities to compete as a result of his income in dollars from international organizations.

And in light of fears of friction in Beirut today between two demonstrations in front of the UNHCR; One of them calls for the return of the displaced Syrians, and the other rejects it. Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi asked the Internal Security Forces to prevent demonstrations by the displaced Syrians or counter-demonstrations, and said that calling for these demonstrations may lead to security problems among the demonstrators in the areas where they will be held.

A meeting is being held today at the Grand Serail, chaired by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, to discuss the issue of the displaced Syrians. Minister of Social Affairs Hector al-Hajjar said that he would propose completing the return of the displaced Syrians.

The head of the Kataeb party, MP Sami Gemayel, described some of the displaced Syrians as “economic migrants.” He said that most of them are “not at risk if they return.” He called for dropping the refugee status of anyone who enters Lebanon surreptitiously.

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