LOC12:46
09:46 GMT
BEIRUT, Sept 1 (KUNA) -- The office of the UN Higher Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) announced Sunday that the number of the Syrian refugees in
Lebanon had swelled to reach more than 716,000 people.
The weekly report of the UNHCR office in Lebanon said more than 55,000
refugees have registered at the UN office here last August.
The UNHCR pointed out that the Syrian refugees are given shelter in
different Lebanese cities and governorates. It detailed that over 200,000
refugees have settled in the North Lebanon Governorates, 206,000 in the Beqaa
region, 119,000 in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and 79,000 in southern
governorates.
The UNHCR voiced concern about the security situation in Northern Lebanon
and the Beqaa, particularly in the town of Hermel close to the Syrian border,
which impedes access by humanitarian teams and agencies.
According to some UN estimates, it is feared basic services systems in host
countries would collapse under the extreme pressure of continuous influx of
Syrian refugees.
In one example, a UN report indicated the number of Syrian students in
Lebanese schools by end of the current school year would be around 450,000
compared to just 350,000 Lebanese.(end)
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