Miqati Appeals for Burden-Sharing in Syrian Refugees Crisis

Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati reiterated on Tuesday his appeal for the international community to cooperate with Lebanon in sharing the burden of the Syrian refugee influx.

During a conference held at the Grand Serail and attended by U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, Miqati called for imposing certain standards on the refugees entering Lebanon.

But he stressed that Lebanon would not be able to cope with their influx if the international community does not implement its pledges made at the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria held in Kuwait last January.

During that conference, President Michel Suleiman urged donors to provide Lebanon with $370 million assistance for refugees from Syria and called for countries to take in some of the displaced.

Lebanon now hosts more than 530,000 Syrian refugees.

Tuesday's conference at the Grand Serail was attended by several cabinet ministers, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly, Ninette Kelley, UNHCR's representative in Lebanon, UNDP Resident Representative Robert Watkins and the ambassadors of several western and Arab countries.

Guterres described the Syrian war as the “biggest” and “most dangerous” humanitarian crisis since the Cold War.

Lebanon is mostly suffering from the repercussions of the war, he said. “That's why we are asking for the support of Lebanon to confront these challenges.”

“We are committed to working along with the Lebanese government … to turn the pledges of the international community” into action, he said.

Guterres discussed the crisis with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.