Syrian refugees in Lebanon confirmed that they prefer to migrate on board “death boats” across the sea rather than return to Syria, in light of the increasing Lebanese security campaigns to deport those of them who do not possess valid residency documents.
A Syrian refugee in Lebanon said that he is ready to set himself on fire and his family in the event that it is decided to forcibly deport him to Syria, pointing out that he would prefer to throw himself into the sea and drown instead of being deported.
The refugee added that the Lebanese General Security refuses to renew his official papers and requires the presence of a guarantor or a residence or work document, indicating that the Lebanese authorities complicate the issue of Syrian transactions, to the extent that the presence of most of them has become illegal, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
A Syrian refugee explained that she prevents her children from going to work, or even going out to buy their needs, for fear of deportation, and she performs this task in a hurry.
The refugee pointed out that she has five young men, including one who is wanted for military service in Syria, confirming that she lost her home and property in Idlib, and there is no safe place for them to return to. Lebanon deports Syrians registered with the UNHCR
And Agence France-Presse revealed that the Lebanese authorities arrested and deported Syrian refugees registered with them, pointing to the separation of children from their families in some cases.
The agency quoted a source in the UNHCR as saying that the Lebanese authorities have arrested about 450 refugees during the massive raid campaigns against Syrians who do not possess residency or identity papers, more than 60 of whom have been deported to Syria.
He pointed to the high number of raids in areas where Syrian refugees live in the regions of Mount Lebanon and the North, including at least 13 raids in the current month of April.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon expressed their fears of being handed over to the Syrian intelligence, as happened with several families, after they were “forcibly” deported to their country, according to “Agence France Presse”.
The agency warned that hate speech towards the Syrians has increased during the past weeks, as many Lebanese demanded through social media to expel them from the country.
Refugees interviewed by the agency expressed their willingness to die by drowning in the sea, rather than return to Syria, for fear of arrest and torture in Syrian intelligence prisons.
Lebanon forcibly evacuates thousands of Syrians from their homes
An official revealed to the Lebanese “Janoubia” website that “13 municipalities in Lebanon have evacuated 3,664 Syrians from the homes they rented, while 55,000 refugees are at risk of eviction.”The Lebanese army arrested dozens of Syrian refugees residing in the camps of the Nabatiyeh district, in southern Lebanon.
Local media reported that a number of Syrians from Marj al-Khoukh camp (tents) and al-Wazzani camps in the vicinity of Nabatiyeh district had been arrested under the pretext of “illegally entering Lebanon.”
international concern
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon expressed its “grave concern” about reports of the forced deportation of Syrian refugees from Lebanon, stressing that it is following up with the concerned parties.
The UNHCR indicated that it had noticed an “increase in the number of raids” against Syrians in both Mount Lebanon and North Lebanon, noting that it was aware of at least 13 confirmed raids, based on information from refugees and reports.
The Commission pointed out that it had received reports of Syrians detained with the aim of deporting them later to Syria, “among them are known Syrian refugees who are already registered with it,” according to the Lebanese newspaper, An-Nahar.
She added that she takes reports of the deportation of Syrian refugees very seriously, and is following up with relevant stakeholders in Lebanon.
The UNHCR called for “respecting the principles of international law and ensuring the protection of refugees in Lebanon from forcible return to their homes.”
In turn, Amnesty International called on the Lebanese government to stop forcibly deporting Syrian refugees to their country.
The organization said that there are fears that the deportees will be exposed to “the risk of torture or persecution at the hands of the Syrian regime upon their return.”
Deputy Director of the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in the organization, Aya Majzoub, stressed the need to protect Syrian refugees in Lebanon from arbitrary raids and illegal deportation.
“It is deeply troubling to see the military decide the fate of refugees, without respecting due process or allowing those facing deportation to challenge their deportation in court or seek protection,” she added.
And she pointed out in her speech: “It is not permissible to return any refugee to a place where his life would be in danger.”
Majzoub indicated that there is no excuse for “Lebanon’s violation of its legal obligations,” stressing the need for the international community to increase its assistance, “particularly resettlement programs and alternative pathways, to help Lebanon deal with the estimated 1.5 million refugees.”
The Lebanese army has deported more than 50 Syrian refugees from Lebanon over the past two weeks, according to AFP.
