Tripoli to Host Conference for Countries Harboring Syrian Refugees in September
The next ministerial coordination meeting of major host countries of Syrian refugees will take place in Lebanon, reported An Nahar daily on Friday.
Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas announced during Thursday's cabinet session that the conference will be held in the northern city of Tripoli in September.
A ministerial committee has been tasked with following up on this issue.
Derbas explained that during the previous conference, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosheyar Zebari had proposed that his country host the next meeting, but he objected to it because it was Lebanon's turn.
At this point, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu interjected to voice his support for Derbas' suggestion.
He also proposed that Tripoli host the meeting, which Derbas tentatively agreed to.
The last ministerial coordination meeting of major host countries was held in Jordan in May and was attended by ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt, as well as representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Lebanon currently hosts 1.1 million refugees, the highest number at 38 percent of Syrian refugees fleeing the war-torn country for other countries in the region.
The U.N. says the country needs $1.6 billion (1.2 billion euros) for 2014 to be able to cope with the refugee crisis, but that only 23 percent of this has been gathered.
According to Central Bank of Lebanon statistics, the country faces a financial burden of $4.5 billion because of the refugee crisis.
In May, the Lebanese authorities took a decision to ban Syrian refugees from heading to their country or lose their status.
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