Govt. Preparing to Discuss 'Financial Cost' with Donors as Number of Syria Refugees Surges

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour on Thursday announced that the government is preparing the financial plan for settling the situations of Syrian and Palestinian refugees who have fled Syria's war to the safety of neighboring Lebanon.

“The crisis in Syria will not end soon and the influx of Syrian refugees is a fact that cannot be overlooked or neglected and the Lebanese state must fully shoulder its responsibility in this regard,” Abu Faour said after a meeting at the Grand Serail that was presided over by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and attended by Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, Education Minister Hassan Diab and High Relief Commission chief Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Bashir.

“The responsibilities of each ministry have been defined and a provisional budget has been drafted by the Lebanese state in order to address the issue of the refugees,” Abu Faour added, noting that a meeting will be held on Monday with the director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a “final discussion.”

“The prime minister will then invite the donors to a meeting during which the Lebanese state's plan and financial cost will be submitted,” Abu Faour said.

Asked about foreign support, the minister said he hopes the promises “made by several Western and Arab parties will be fulfilled,” adding that “the Lebanese state and government are always urging these sides to perform their duties.”

The U.N. refugee agency says that the number of registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon has topped 100,000.

Abu Faour revealed that "around 30,000 refugees are waiting to be registered."