The Syrian Interim Government (SIG) condemned the Lebanese army’s raiding of the Syrian refugee camps in and around the town of Arsal, saying that the arrests that took place in the camps contravened international humanitarian laws and norms.
SIG said in a statement that the Lebanese army “has surrounded dozens of Syrian refugee camps and detained more than 300 refugees, mostly young people.”
“These acts contravened all humanitarian and international laws and norms on the rights and protection of refugees,” the statement said, adding that these acts were aimed at forcing the refugees to return to Syria.
SIG warned of the unknown fate awaiting refugees returning to Syria, citing the Assad regime’s arrest and execution of refugees who returned to the areas under its control.
Lebanese Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Mouin Merehbi on Tuesday told The Associated Press that 20 refugees have been killed since refugee started returning from Lebanon in June. “What we are sure about is nearly 20 (got killed) and there are three cases that I personally documented and I spoke with their relatives and received their photos,” Merhebi said.
SIG expressed its “deep concern” about the fate of the detained refugees as it called upon the Lebanese government to shoulder its responsibilities to protect refugees on its territory in accordance with the rights guaranteed by international law. It also urged international institutions, the United Nations and UNHCR to assume their duty to protect Syrian refugees. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
