Salam from Munich: Large Number of Syrian Refugees Led to Spike in Crime in Lebanon

Prime Minister Tammam Salam noted on Friday that the presence of refugees in a country of such fragile economic and political scenes as Lebanon is a “ticking time bomb”.

He said: “The large number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has led to an increase in crime due to unemployment and poverty.”

“This poses a threat to the country's security and stability,” he added during his address at the 51st Munich Security Conference.

The premier therefore called for “immediate” action to confront the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon.

“Time is not in anyone's favor,” Salam remarked at the beginning of the three-day conference.

The prime minister had kicked off his trip to Germany with talks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa.

U.N. refugee agency UNHCR has registered 1.5 million arrivals, but many more are thought to be in the country unregistered, and thousands have entered Lebanon through illegal crossings.

The influx has tested the country's limited resources, as well as the patience of its citizens, particularly as security has deteriorated.

M.T.