Lebanese minister slams EU for not hostig Syrian refugees

A Lebanese minister has censured the European Union (EU) states for not allowing Syrian refugees into their territories.

Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Rashid Derbas raised concerns about the situation of the Syrians fleeing the conflict in their country, saying it is not getting any better despite frequent deadly sea accidents involving the refugees.

Derbas said Lebanon has done all in its power to help the people escaping from the crisis-hit Arab country.

According to data released by the official, 1.3 million displaced people from Syria have entered neighboring Lebanon over the past three years.

The United Nations estimates show that Syrian refugees have increased the population of Lebanon by about a quarter.

The Beirut government has repeatedly called upon the international community to fulfill their pledges to help Lebanon accommodate the high number of the Syrian refugees escaping the foreign-backed militancy in their home country.

Earlier in March, Ross Mountain, the acting UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, called on the international community to support Lebanon with the influx of the Syrian refugees.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Recent UN figures indicate that nearly 11 million Syrians are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The UN has put the total number of Syrian refugees at around 2.9 million people.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.