Amid human rights criticism, Lebanon returns Syrian refugees to their country

BY| Middleeast 24

Amid conflicting information and opinions between the Lebanese General Security and international organizations regarding Syrian refugees in Lebanon and their “voluntary” return to their country, a batch of refugees began leaving on Wednesday, October 26, according to the National News Agency.

The Lebanese General Security organizes the return trips in coordination with Damascus, and human rights organizations criticize them.

Since the early hours of the morning, buses and vans, some carrying Lebanese and Syrian registration plates, gathered in the Arsal region in eastern Lebanon, before they started gradually to Syrian territory. Refugees brought with them their necessities, including personal belongings, belongings, and even poultry and animals, according to Agence France-Presse.

Buses and trucks gathered in the Arsal area in eastern Lebanon before they set off for Syrian territory (Reuters)

The General Security announced that about 750 refugees are scheduled to leave from several areas through at least three border points, within the framework of the “voluntary and safe return of the displaced” plan, which the Lebanese authorities started in 2017, in batches, and announced this month the resumption of its implementation.

And the Syrian news agency “SANA” reported that “a batch of displaced Syrians has arrived from refugee camps in Lebanon through the Dabousiyah border crossing in the countryside of Homs (central) to return to their safe and liberated areas from terrorism.”

International criticism and Lebanese roses

According to the mass returns, according to Lebanese General Security data, more than 400,000 refugees have been returned to Syria, but humanitarian organizations believe that the number of returnees is much lower, and they are talking about documenting cases of “forced” deportation.