Lebanese official calls for categorizing Syrian refugees to facilitate their return to homeland

Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-26 20:55:40|Editor: Xiaoxia
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BEIRUT, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The advisor to Lebanese foreign affairs minister Ola Boutros called Tuesday for drafting a strategy that divides Syrian refugees into categories to facilitate their return to homeland, local media reported.

"Around 30,000 Syrian refugees out of one million fear to go back to their country because they are opposed to the regime while the rest can go back easily to safe areas in Syria," Boutros was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Meanwhile, Amal Abou Zeid, foreign ministry's representative on the joint Lebanese-Russian committee for the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, told Xinhua that a strategy that would categorize Syrian refugees is very essential.

"Some refugees do not wish to return for security, political or economic reasons which we should look into in a bid to facilitate this procedure and secure the return of those who can make it without any major problems," Abou Zeid said.

He also quoted the Russian ambassador to Lebanon, saying that there are 400 towns in Syria that have not been destroyed.

More than one million Syrian refugees have registered with the UNHCR in Lebanon, while the government estimates the true number of Syrians in Lebanon at 1.5 million.

Only 172,046 Syrian refugees have succeeded in returning so far to their homeland.

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