Over 21,000 Syrians fled to Lebanon after Syria coastal clashes, UN says

The United Nations’ refugee agency has revealed that over 21,000 people fled Syria for neighbouring Lebanon due to sectarian violence in the Syrian coastal region, amid a recent resurgence of Assad loyalists.

Citing figures by Lebanese authorities and the Lebanese Red Cross, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported in a statement that “21,637 new arrivals from Syria” had fled to northern Lebanon since hostilities were ignited in the coastal region of western Syria.

Clashes erupted throughout the provinces of Latakia and Tartus in early March after militant elements loyal to the late Assad regime launched attacks on new Syrian authorities and security forces, sparking a widespread security sweep which reportedly resulted in a total of over 1,400 killed.

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Aside from the Syrian forces’ crackdown on those Assadist militants, there were also reports of the killing of civilians from minority groups such as the Alawites who dominate that coastal region. Rogue elements of the new Syrian forces – formerly rebels prior to Assad’s collapse – were accused of committing the massacres, with the new Syrian interim government vowing to investigate and hold them to account.

The after effects of those events, however, continue to be felt as tens of thousands of those Syrians from the coastal region flee to neighbouring Lebanon amid ongoing and growing fears of future clashes.

The UNHCR statement highlighted that “fleeing families are continuing to cross unofficial border crossing points including through rivers on foot, and are arriving exhausted, traumatised, and hungry.”

The statement also noted “ongoing reports of insecurity hampering people’s movements before they reach Lebanon.”

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