The Daily Star - HRC negotiating with foreign countries to aid Syrian refugees, March 15, 2012

BEIRUT: The head of Lebanon’s Higher Relief Committee Ibrahim Bashir said Wednesday that the body has begun contacting countries interested in providing relief for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

“Under the instructions of Prime Minister Najib Mikati ... we have started to contact the embassies of countries interested in relief work, taking into consideration the requirements of humanitarian work and its organization in a way that guarantees the rights of refugees,” Bashir said.

He spoke to reporters while touring villages that are hosting Syrian refugees in the northern district of Akkar, where he checked on the refugees’ situation, aid provision, and the needs of Lebanese host families.

According to figures from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, there are around 12,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon who have fled Syria since the outbreak of an anti-regime uprising a year ago. Activists say the number is much higher.

“A meeting was held with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador [Ali Awad Asiri] for this purpose and discussions were very positive,” Bashir said, especially given the country’s previous aid to Syrian refugees.

Bashir said meetings will be held with ambassadors of all countries interested in providing relief, adding that the HRC is the official body tasked with providing aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He added that the HRC is cooperating with the UNHCR, the Social Affairs Ministry and civil society groups to help refugees.

“There is a united team to handle this humanitarian mission,” he said.

For his part, Akkar MP Mouin Merehbi, from the Future Movement, called upon the Cabinet and Finance Ministry to pay the HRC enough funds “to allow it to provide relief to Syrian refugees.”

In a statement, he urged the prime minister’s office and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi to “address this matter as soon as possible” to put an end to the sufferings of the refugees, especially the sick and wounded.

The lawmaker praised King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and his country for promising to cover the costs of treating wounded Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.


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