Aoun: Lebanon to begin returning Syrians back to war-torn country

Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, announced Wednesday that his country will start returning Syrian refugees to areas controlled by the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad at the end of next week.

In statements published by the Lebanese Presidency on Twitter, Aoun said “starting next week, the process of returning the displaced Syrians will begin in batches to their country”.

In September, the Lebanese government began a plan to forcibly return Syrian refugees to their country by preparing a list of the first batch that will leave the country for Syria.

The list of names was later handed over to the General Directorate of Lebanese Public Security which, in turn, sent it to the Syrian Ministry of Local Administration.

About 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in Lebanon, who suffer from deteriorating economic conditions, amid racist incitement by government officials and the Hezbollah group.

READ: Human rights organisations warn of Syrian refugees in Lebanon being returned ‘by force’

Syrian refugees are being forced to return to Syria by their host countries – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]