UN to help Lebanon cope with Syrian refugee crisis

The UN and the international community are focusing on projects that could help the Lebanese to cope with the current Syrian refugee crisis, a senior UN official said on Thursday.

According to a UN statement, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon Ross Mountain visited the eastern Bekaa towns of Hermel and Arsal to review the conditions of the displaced Syrians and the Lebanese communities hosting them. 

There are over 376,000 registered Syrian refugees throughout the Bekaa, said the UN Higher Commissioner for Refugees. 

"The UN is looking into ways to both provide short-term assistance and help the Lebanese authorities maximize the use of such resources," he said, referring to the water shortage facing the refugee camps.

In Arsal, Mountain met with displaced Syrian families, and said the UN was committed to continue assisting the Lebanese authorities in meeting humanitarian and stabilization needs.

He hailed the generosity of the Lebanese government and its people to the displaced Syrians during the past three years.

The UN official also said "the United Nations will continue to encourage additional international assistance to help in sharing this burden with Lebanon."

Source: ANTARA