Lebanese rally in Brussels before Syrian refugees conference

Supporters of various Lebanese political parties, expatriates, and several Lebanese MPs held a protest in Brussels on Monday, coinciding with an annual international conference on Syrian refugees.

The Lebanese demonstrators expressed their opposition to what they see as efforts to “keep the Syrians in Lebanon.”

The Lebanese Forces had called for the protest, which included the participation of their MPs Pierre Bou Saab and Elias Stephan, Free Patriotic Movement official Naji Hayek, and representatives from the Marada Movement, the Kataeb Party, and civil society organizations.

Waving Lebanese flags, the protesters voiced their support for Lebanon amidst the Syrian refugee crisis, highlighting the immense strain it has placed on the country’s economy.

The demonstrators urged the international community and the European Union to “press for resolving this crisis” by supporting the refugees within Syria rather than in Lebanon.

Many Lebanese, including politicians, have long advocated for the return of Syrians who have fled the 13-year civil war, blaming them for worsening Lebanon’s significant economic challenges that began in late 2019.

Lebanon claims to host approximately two million Syrian refugees—the highest per capita number in the world—with nearly 785,000 registered with the United Nations.

Recently, anti-Syrian sentiment among politicians has intensified, with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urging Lebanese authorities to facilitate migrant boats reaching Europe to pressure Western countries for more aid.

Earlier this month, the European Union announced $1 billion in aid to Lebanon to address illegal migration, primarily of Syrians to Cyprus, the EU’s easternmost member.

For a long time, Lebanon has depended on Syrians for manual labor, especially in agriculture and construction.

Lebanese security forces have recently intensified crackdowns on Syrians lacking residency permits, shutting down their businesses and evicting them from their homes.