Lebanese gov't to stop receiving Syrian refugees, barring "exceptional" cases

BEIRUT, Oct 23 (KUNA) -- The Lebanese cabinet on Thursday agreed unanimously to stop the influx of further Syrian refugees into the country, fleeing the war, except under "exceptional humanitarian cases".
"The government agreed to stop welcoming displaced people, barring exceptional cases, and to ask the UN refugee agency to stop registering the displaced," Information Minister Ramzi Jreij said after a cabinet meeting.
He added that only refugees whose files had been endorsed by the government would be given refugee status in Lebanon.
This move comes only days after Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas said that Lebanon no longer officially receives any Syrian refugees.
Jreij added that the government encourages refugees to go back to their home or to any other country by all possible means.
As for issues of international assistance provided to the displaced, Jreij pointed out that the government decided to make balance between the demands of refugees and the needs of host country and to ensure direct financing directed to Lebanon's institutions by a credit fund of donors. According to UNHCR's reports, at least 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