The Lebanese security forces have evacuated three towns in northern Lebanon of Syrian refugees whom it said were “violating regulations”.
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that State Security patrols evacuated the towns of Rachana, Niha, and Kfour El Arabi of “violating Syrian displaced persons” (Lebanon refers to Syrian refugees on its soil as displaced persons), after previously warning them to leave within a specified timeframe.
The agency added that the evacuation came due to the Syrians residing illegally and occupying properties owned by Lebanese, stating that “the eviction operations took place without any incidents”.
The eviction operations of Syrians from homes or camps in Lebanon are not new; they are part of several measures by municipalities or the Lebanese government aimed at putting pressure on Syrians.
On August 28, State Security patrols evacuated homes of Syrian refugees in the town of Rashkida in the Batroun District of the North Governorate.
The same scenario was applied by State Security patrols on August 27 in the town of Kfarhabba in the Dinniyeh District, “in implementation of the Lebanese government decisions”.
This came after the Governor of North Lebanon, Ramzi Nahra, issued a decision to evacuate Syrian refugees from 33 towns in Batroun District and requested the “regional director of State Security” to start implementing it immediately.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon face continuous pressure, amidst official and popular Lebanese demands to limit their presence in the country.
The Lebanese authorities follow a policy of tightening measures against refugees, as they have previously closed shops run by Syrians, and forced many to leave the towns they were residing in, pushing them to relocate to other Lebanese areas or return to Syria under pressure.
On May 15, several officials and politicians commented on the issue of the Syrian presence in Lebanon during a session of the Lebanese Parliament dedicated to discussing the “European grant” to Lebanon (one billion euros) and the file of “displaced” Syrians.
The Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, said that the government is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to explain the “danger of Syrian displacement to Lebanon to European countries, and to encourage Syrians to return to their country”.
Representative George Adwan called on the government to deport Syrians, considering any negligence as its problem, and stated that the “European grant” is only a package of aid that has been given for years, “and we do not want money that keeps Syrians in our country”, stressing the need to deal with the illegal Syrian presence within the laws.
Meanwhile, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, considered the essence of the “European grant” to be preventing the return of Syrians to their country, financing their stay in Lebanon, and preventing their movement to Europe.