Bassil Calls for Halting Entry of Syrian Refugees: They Threaten Lebanese Entity
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil warned on Friday that the Syrian refugee crisis is threatening the Lebanese entity, noting that the youth will face more unemployment amid the soaring numbers of refugees.
“We became two people in one nation and not one nation in two countries,” Bassil said in a press conference.
He pointed out that the demand on electricity increased from 213 megawatts to 306 megawatts due to the increasing crisis.
The Syria conflict will cost Lebanon $7.5 billion from 2012 to 2014, according to an estimate given by World Bank president Jim Yong Kim to the meeting held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
The U.N. says there are already 760,000 Syrians registered in Lebanon and there will be one million by the end of the year.
Lebanon's government estimates there are already 1.2 million with many not bothering to register.
Bassil also revealed that 87 percent of people committing crimes recently are Syrian nationals.
“The Syrian displacement crisis threatens the Lebanese entity,” the caretaker Minister added.
The Lebanese government says there will soon be a strain on electricity supplies and is having to start school lessons by shifts to cope with an extra 90,000 Syrian children.
Kim said there was already "fierce" competition for jobs between Lebanese and Syrians.
He said that by the end of 2014 there could be 200,000-300,000 more Lebanese unemployed which would double the unemployment rate to more than 20%.
He called on the state to halt the Syrian entry to Lebanon and only allow the “extraordinary cases that need healthcare to enter the country.”
Bassil also noted that the services that the state is providing the refugees with “encourage them to head to Lebanon.”
President Michel Suleiman considered, during a meeting for the International Support Group for Lebanon on Wednesday at New York, that demanding funds to enhance their conditions will facilitate merging them in our community.
He has called for an international conference on the refugee crisis which has sent more than two million Syrians spilling into Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
The U.N. estimates there will be three million by the end of the year.
No concrete pledges of aid were made at the meeting. But the World Bank and IMF are to appeal for funds for Lebanon at their autumn meetings in October.
27 September 2013, 14:24
1012
Yislam Timmak Ya Bassil and this lovely tan you are brandishing! The influx of Syrian Sunni refugees is largely to blame for the shortages in electricity and the heavy burden on the Lebanese atomic-power grid. Said grid was at optimal performance before these refugees started pouring in like ants into our country. Statistical analysis conducted by the FPM clearly indicates that Syrian Christians and Alawis consume less power than Sunni Syrians. This is a conspiracy by Gaegae and Harriri to undermine your achievements in the Ministry that you chair. Bassil: we all know your achievements and qualifications.... Rest assured, we the lebanese recognize you as one of the miracles of lebanese politics and a phenomena rarely seen since the independence and establishment of Lebanon. Bless You....
27 September 2013, 14:32
1710
cut the hypocrisy rft, and the sectarian talk. either answer what he's talking about or zip it. don't go inventing stuff trying to sound smart.
27 September 2013, 17:58
118
Bless you Mowaten for being the moderator, and telling RFT what to say. We need more patriots like you.
27 September 2013, 19:09
66
I am sure R-FT cares so much what the "non-sectarian" mowaten of Iran and his twin think:)
27 September 2013, 16:43
86
your sarcasm is misplaced in this case Roaring. Bassil is right 100%. At least he has the balls to talk about the matter, not like HA who does not care about Lebanon or Mikati who is happy seeing sunnites increase in lebanon.
27 September 2013, 17:24
66
no offense bud but it does not make sense to commend him on speaking about it and then condemn HA for not caring. HA is in power currently because of his actions. He owns a huge chunk of the responsibility that has brought us to this stage.
BTW- I enjoy reading most of your comments as you are a very reasonable person and truly believe you have Lebanon first at heart whether I agree with your comments or not.
27 September 2013, 18:09
56
Hulk. this is the biggest mistake of people. They think that HA is in power because of Aoun. This is not true. When March 8 occured, there was no Aoun in M8. It was HA, AMal, palestinian factions, SSNP, Jibril, Baath, and other miscellaneous junk. HA intended to take power with or without Aoun. Aoun came and gave legitimacy to HA true. If he had not given legitimacy to HA, HA would have remained a party of thugs occupying Solidere, and imposing its view by force. HA would have occupied the country by force. At least due to Aoun, HA is tasting the taste of legitimacy, it is learning how difficult it is to control the government. HA today is unmarginalized and our brother chiites are learning (albeit slowly) on how to join the brethen of the state. What brought us to this stage are the Iranian and Syrian instructions to HA. Not Aoun.
27 September 2013, 20:02
63
There is nothing legitimate about HA. Actually, HA is far less legitimate now then they were in the past. Aoun did not do a damn thing to give them a "taste of democracy" as you put it. The only thing he did was take part in the collapse of the previous cabinet and help them have a major share in this one. He then proceeded to provide them political cover throughout. to use that sort of logic to give aoun credit is a very far reach. Aoun joined them for a single reason. He realized that he was never going to be lead dog with M14 and would never see the presidency. He knew that he would have substantial power if he joined M8 and he went that route. His switch had absolutely nothing to do with making the country better, doing the right thing, or anything that resembles a shred of patriotism. In my opinion, to think that aoun joined HA to avert civil war or legitimize them is a bit gullible.( I hope I don't offend you, not my intent)
27 September 2013, 19:08
63
I am sure R-FT cares so much what the "non-sectarian" mowaten of Iran and his twin think:)
27 September 2013, 14:42
137
beware, they're now going to claim that "black shirts" made naharnet remove their article ;)
27 September 2013, 15:55
33
i'd rather have two people in one nation than a one people in two nations, the latter gave the syrian regime the right to invade and occupy lebanon
27 September 2013, 16:45
96
the same danger that lead lebanon to war in the 70s is happening now. This time the psp is not siding with this national sovereign danger. The syrians are replacing the Palestinians.
Those that are dismissing Bassil and the many other political parties, are dismissing Lebanon as a republic! The republic of lebanon must control all its territory, must control who comes into the country and must be able to support the citizens of this country. There are people that mock lebanese nationalism and claim we are all arabs... We are lebanese. we are not western or eastern, not arab or persian, we are lebanese! The descendants of the Phoenicians, we are open, diverse, religiously, culturally and linguistically, but we are all Lebanese! Separate to Palestinians and syrians, very different to saudi, gulf arabs, Egyptians and the northern africans!
Control our borders! all lebanese return from syria and end this political corrupt class. Military coup is needed!
27 September 2013, 18:03
65
so what is the gvt you are part of doing since 2 years for the refugees? nothing... now you cry? LOL
27 September 2013, 23:51
53
What happened to the news report published this morning stating that Sehnaoui was obstructing justice for STL?
Did the sinister minister pressure our favourite news website?
28 September 2013, 10:05
00
so according to bassil.... syrian refugees are not welcomed in lebanon but what is welcome are syrian agents, weapons, bombs, assassinations, bribe money, etc etc
28 September 2013, 14:51
21
Yes I agree with what he said and I also blame him and his government for botching things up to this point.
