UN responds to refugee influx into Syria amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict

DAMASCUS, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mobilizing resources to address an influx of both Lebanese citizens and displaced Syrians crossing into Syria, following Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon, a UNHCR official informed Xinhua on Monday.
Ambrose Chiu, senior repatriation officer for UNHCR in Syria, confirmed at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing, located in the countryside near Damascus, that the UN agency is actively collaborating with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to provide immediate assistance to incoming Lebanese refugees and Syrian returnees.
On the morning of Sept. 24, UNHCR observed a significant number of people approaching the borders, with many arriving on foot after a long journey. As the situation evolved, UNHCR teams quickly began offering basic support to the growing number of arrivals, Chiu added.
“There was significant congestion, with many cars and people coming in. Processing took time, and the needs were substantial. Since then, conditions have improved somewhat, but following another escalation two days ago, we have seen an uptick in arrivals,” Chiu noted.
Lebanon, which has been grappling with ongoing tensions with Israel, has experienced a sharp rise in refugees fleeing the conflict.
According to a source from Syria’s General Directorate of Migration and Passports, over 52,000 Lebanese citizens and 125,000 displaced Syrians have crossed into Syria since the onset of Israeli military actions last week.
The Syrian government has pledged to provide comprehensive support to facilitate the entry process for the incoming families.
Syria and Lebanon share approximately 375 km of border, with the Jdeidat Yabous crossing, known as the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon, serving as one of the five major routes between the two countries. ■