Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk will propose to the Cabinet that the government move thousands of Syrian refugees to outside the northeastern town of Arsal to defuse tension that is putting the Army and civilians at risk.
“We need to start working on moving the Syrian refugees outside of Arsal,” Machnouk told Al-Akhbar in an article published Saturday.
“There are 1.1 million refugees outside the town with no primary issue regarding their presence. The only problem is in Arsal and we should defuse the situation that is a danger to the Army and civilians, a danger that is supporting militants.”
Speaking to As-Safir in separate remarks, the minister said he would present his proposal to the Cabinet during Thursday’s session.
“Anyone who opposes the transfer of refugees from Arsal would have to bear the responsibility of the negative consequences and the repercussions on the relationship between the state, the Army and the refugees,” he told the local daily.
He said the location would be agreed to after his proposal received needed “political agreement,” noting the presence of Syrian refugees in Arsal was placing civil peace at risk.
In further remarks to Al-Mustaqbal, Machnouk said measures were needed to protect Arsal, where nearly 140,000 refugees reside, describing the refugee crisis as a problem that should be dealt with immediately.
"I will contact Hezbollah and we will have a serious discussion about this to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese."
The Lebanese Army has launched raids in several refugee camps in Arsal and other parts of the country, detaining hundreds suspected of belonging to terrorist groups and having been involved in last month’s clashes between Lebanese troops and militants from the Nusra Front and ISIS.
Most of the militants that took part in the clashes were said to have been residing in refugee camps in the town.
Machnouk also said that efforts were concentrated on establishing refugee camps on the border “even if that meant that the ministry would be working alone.”
The issue of establishing refugee camps is still under discussion in the Cabinet, which failed last week to come to an agreement on the matter.
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