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Lebanon won't receive further Syrian refugees -- Min.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam during the meeting
Prime Minister Tammam Salam during the meeting
BEIRUT, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Rasheed Derbas said Monday that his country could not receive further Syrians refugees.
After a government committee meeting, headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam, on Syrian refugees, Derbas told reporters that the government took this decision as it could not bear any additional Syrian refugees into Lebanon.
It is unfair that Lebanon receives Syrian refugees coming from areas far from its borders, he said. "Our country can't bear further burdens.
"Syrian people who are living far from our borders can go to other nearby countries," he pointed out.
He said the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon this month decreased by about 40,000, expecting more decline in refugees next month.
The government decided to stop the entry of additional Syrian refugees into Lebanon, but without closing the Lebanon-Syria border, he added. Derbas said that the government will revise the conditions of Syrian refugees periodically and will ask the UNHCR to rule out people who do not meet conditions to be classified as refugees.
The issue of setting up shelters for Syrian refugees in Lebanon is not allowed by the cabinet.
According to UNHCR's reports, around 1.2 million Syrians have sought refuge in Lebanon since the conflict erupted in their country in March 2011.
The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is expected to exceed 1.5 million by the end of this year, reports said. (end) wsm.hm