• Syrian refugees sit with their belongings on a pickup truck as they prepare to return to Syria from Wadi Hmayyed, on the outskirts of the Lebanese border town of Arsal. All photos: Reuters
    Syrian refugees sit with their belongings on a pickup truck as they prepare to return to Syria from Wadi Hmayyed, on the outskirts of the Lebanese border town of Arsal. All photos: Reuters
  • Hundreds of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon returned home on Wednesday, the first day of repatriations organised by Beirut, amid rights groups' concerns that the scheme may involve elements of coercion.
    Hundreds of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon returned home on Wednesday, the first day of repatriations organised by Beirut, amid rights groups' concerns that the scheme may involve elements of coercion.
  • Lugging suitcases, power generators, fridges and even chickens, about 700 Syrians who had agreed to cross over gathered from early morning in a desolate north-eastern border zone.
    Lugging suitcases, power generators, fridges and even chickens, about 700 Syrians who had agreed to cross over gathered from early morning in a desolate north-eastern border zone.
  • Lebanese authorities said the repatriations, under a revived programme run co-ordinated by the country's General Security agency, are voluntary.
    Lebanese authorities said the repatriations, under a revived programme run co-ordinated by the country's General Security agency, are voluntary.
  • The United Nations says flare-ups in violence and the risk of detention make it still unsafe for large-scale returns.
    The United Nations says flare-ups in violence and the risk of detention make it still unsafe for large-scale returns.
  • Lebanon is home to more than 800,000 Syrians registered with the UN refugee agency. At its peak, Lebanon hosted around 1.2 million.
    Lebanon is home to more than 800,000 Syrians registered with the UN refugee agency. At its peak, Lebanon hosted around 1.2 million.
  • They fled the violence in the aftermath of protests against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in 2011.
    They fled the violence in the aftermath of protests against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in 2011.
  • In 2018, the General Security agency launched a mechanism through which any Syrian refugee could signal a desire to return home.
    In 2018, the General Security agency launched a mechanism through which any Syrian refugee could signal a desire to return home.
  • That pathway saw about 400,000 Syrians return home but was put on hold with the outbreak of Covid-19.
    That pathway saw about 400,000 Syrians return home but was put on hold with the outbreak of Covid-19.
  • Outgoing Lebanese President Michel Aoun revived it this month and it resumed on Wednesday.
    Outgoing Lebanese President Michel Aoun revived it this month and it resumed on Wednesday.

MENA

Syrian refugees in Lebanon return home - in pictures

Beirut says the repatriations are voluntary

The National

October 26, 2022

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More from The National:

Daily life of Syrian refugees in Lebanon - in pictures

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The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter

1. Dubai silk road

2.  A geo-economic map for Dubai

3. First virtual commercial city

4. A central education file for every citizen

5. A doctor to every citizen

6. Free economic and creative zones in universities

7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes

8. Co-operative companies in various sectors

­9: Annual growth in philanthropy

List of officials:

Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
match info

Union Berlin 0

Bayern Munich 1 (Lewandowski 40' pen, Pavard 80')

Man of the Match: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich)

While you're here
On Women's Day
David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

US versus China
Updated: October 26, 2022, 9:57 AM