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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanon and UN in spat over Syrian refugees' return |
| 2018-06-14 |
| [Al Jazeera] Leb's caretaker foreign minister has accused the UN refugee agency of discouraging Syrian refugees from returning to their war-torn country as a public spat between the Lebanese government and the agency deepened on Wednesday. "It's time to tell them enough. That's it," Gibran Bassil said to news hounds during a visit to the eastern town of Arsal near the border with Syria, days after he ordered a freeze on the renewal of residency permits for UNHCR staff. Bassil was unhappy with the information the agency gives refugees who are planning to return to Syria, which he says include an emphasis on the lack of security guarantees, possible destruction of homes and compulsory military service back home, as well as telling them the agency was not able to provide support in some parts of Syria. "Actually, they are telling them not to go back," Bassil said. The UN is angered by Bassil's accusations and Leb's decision to freeze renewal of residency permits for staff. |
| Posted by:Fred |