The Daily Star - Syrian delegation urges refugees to return - May 27, 2011

By Dana Khraiche

The Daily Star Syrian refugees were seen crossing into Lebanon on May 17, 2011. (Roni Said, The Daily Star) BEIRUT: A delegation from the Syrian authority Friday informed Syrian refugees in Lebanon that they should return to Syria and are allowed to use the Bkayaa border crossing to do so. Syrian authorities began a crackdown on the crossing two weeks ago to halt the flow of refugees in either direction. Security sources told The Daily Star that Tall Kalakh Sheikh Osama Mohammad Ali Akary and head of the Tall Kalakh municipality Mohammad al-Haris arrived from Syria through the Arida border crossing to urge Syrian refugees to go back to their hometown. A large influx of Syrian refugees has crossed into northern Lebanese town of Wadi Khaled in the past month, following a security crackdown by the Syrian authority on the town of Tall Kalakh, a town five kilometers north of the Lebanese border. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 15 as demonstrators demand reform in the tightly controlled Arab state. The Syrian leadership has repeatedly described the protest as a conspiracy against the country, cracking down on protestors and prompting an international condemnation toward violence used against protestors. The delegation said that the border will be open from 6 a.m. till 7 p.m. daily. The Lebanese government, residents of Wadi Khaled and other nongovernmental organizations have assisted Syrian refugees in Wadi Khaled by putting up tents and opening up mosques to accommodate the large number of refugees.