Derbas Says Refugee Crisis Requires 'Political State of Emergency'

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas has said that the crisis of Syrian refugees is a national cause that requires a political state of emergency to overcome its repercussions.

“The issue of the displaced Syrians should not cause political tension,” Derbas told An Nahar daily on Friday, a day after he referred a detailed report on the refugees to Prime Minister Tammam Salam and several cabinet ministers.

“It is a national cause that requires the announcement of a political state of emergency, involving the alertness of all political parties,” he said.

Derbas said that the number of refugees registered with the U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR, has reached approximately 1.2 million.

More Syrians have entered the country illegally and are not registered.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Thursday that the international community including Western states had a huge responsibility to help the hosting countries.

"It is not only (a responsibility) of Turkey, Lebanon or of Jordan," said Guterres, referring to the countries which have taken in large numbers of Syrian refugees.

"It is a global responsibility," he said.

In his remarks to An Nahar, Derbas reiterated that there was a need for joint Lebanese-Jordanian work to ask for safe areas for refugees in Syria.

Lebanese authorities have repeatedly called for the establishment of safe areas in Syria mainly on the border with Lebanon. But their demand has not been met with a positive reaction.

An estimated 4 million people have fled Syria, with more than half of the country's population displaced.

G.K.

D.A.