Syrian refugees face deportation from Lebanon
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are enduring increased hostilities and are facing a mass deportation according to Arab News and agencies on May 24th.
Syrian refugee Maryam Janhat has been in a constant state of anxiety as Lebanese politicians mount calls to deport the minority population.
“I am scared when (my husband and children) come to work at the stall. I am afraid they could take my son at any moment…we are afraid to walk the streets,” she said.
Maryam lives in Minyara, a small village in Lebanon’s north.
Of Minyara’s 8000 residents 50 percent are Syrian refugees – the majority of whom live in tents.
Maryam arrived in the tiny village in 2014 fleeing her home city of Homs, just three years after the onset of Syria’s bloody civil war.
She said she feels fortunate to be able to live in a house rather than tent.
But her family have been prevented renewing their residency in Lebanon, and now face deportation.
For those without residency permits life is exceptionally hard.
Lebanese authorities have begun shutting down businesses and forcing families to evacuate their homes.
Families like Maryam are stuck in a catch-22 situation where they are unable to obtain the permits but also punished for failing to get them. Effectively, it’s a campaign of intimidation aiming to force refugees back to Syria.
Amnesty International’s Lebanon researcher, Sarah Mandour, said “Hate campaigns, legal restrictions, and unprecedented measures to make it difficult to obtain residency” are increasing.
As Lebanon struggles through its financial crash and with 33 percent of its population living in poverty, attitudes have soured towards its refugee population.
READ: Lebanon’s poverty triples says World Bank
The country reportedly hosts the largest number of refugees per capita – currently hosting two million Syrians.
On the ground, Syrians face real persecution and xenophobia from Lebanese citizens.
Lebanese vegetable seller Ibrahim Mansour complained about Syrians creating job competition, “in every sector”, saying that “When they leave the situation will improve a lot.”
The village mayor Antoun Abboud said, “We are not telling them to leave. We just want to reduce…and organize Syrian presence in Lebanon”.
READ: Seven Syrians nabbed for Pascal Sleiman murder
Politicians have also fuelled hostilities with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah encouraging refugees to leave Lebanon for Europe.
Meanwhile Cyprus has experienced a huge increase in arrival of Syrian refugees in 2024, prompting the country to undertake increasingly harsh restrictions.
The European Union has followed suit, granting a $1 billion aid package to Lebanon in exchange for a crackdown on Syrians leaving its shores.
Meanwhile in Minyara refugees are suffering huge fear and uncertainty.
35-year-old herder Hajjem – who remained partially anonymous for security reasons – said, “Syrians cannot move anymore. Even laborers in the fields are skipping work”.
“I can’t sleep at night because the army or security forces could deport us at any moment” he added.
For many Syrians, returning to war-torn Syria is not an option – not least because many fled fearing capture from the Syrian regime.
Hajjem’s elderly father said, “It would be better to throw oneself into the sea” than return to their homeland.
Arab News / Agencies
