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FPM: EU's Latest Financial Support for Syrian Refugees Would Encourage Them to Stay In Lebanon

Syrian refugees evacuated from the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa ride a bus through the Masnaa crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border leading to Damascus on 18 April 2018 [HASSAN JARRAH/AFP]
Syrian refugees evacuated from the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa ride a bus through the Masnaa crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border leading to Damascus on 18 April 2018 [HASSAN JARRAH/AFP]
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FPM: EU's Latest Financial Support for Syrian Refugees Would Encourage Them to Stay In Lebanon

Syrian refugees evacuated from the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa ride a bus through the Masnaa crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border leading to Damascus on 18 April 2018 [HASSAN JARRAH/AFP]
Syrian refugees evacuated from the southern Lebanese village of Shebaa ride a bus through the Masnaa crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border leading to Damascus on 18 April 2018 [HASSAN JARRAH/AFP]

Some Lebanese parties fear that the new financial contribution from the European Union to support Syrian refugees in Lebanon could mean that the international community doesn't aim to help refugees to return to their homeland.

“There are fears that some countries and parties continue to seek cover resettlement of Syrian refugees in Lebanon,” said Amal Abou Zeid, a former Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) deputy and foreign ministry's representative on the joint Lebanese-Russian committee for the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the financial contribution offered from the EU to help refugees in Lebanon does not serve the country’s best interests.

“Let them help Syrian refugees return to their homeland in a way that serves both our interests and theirs,” Abou Zeid said.

On Friday, the EU confirmed a new financial contribution to allow UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Food Program (WFP) continue life-saving humanitarian support for 358,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon until April 2020.

The Lebanese government estimates that close to 1.5 million Syrians have sought refuge in the country.

The additional allocation of EUR 39.3 million brings the total EU contribution received since July 2018 to EUR 88.1 million for both UNHCR and WFP.

The assistance is transferred through electronic cards to 358,000 people to be spent on their essential needs. The majority of that cash is spent on food and shelter. Other essential purchases include healthcare and education.

“Syrian refugees in Lebanon are struggling to meet their most basic needs. This program is more necessary than ever, as it will allow some of the most vulnerable to maintain their dignity after years in exile,” says Filippo Grandi, UNHCR’s High Commissioner.

For his part, WFP’s Executive Director David Beasley explained that these contributions provide a vital lifeline for these refugees so they can live as normal lives as possible.

“The sustained support from the EU is critical for WFP’s ability to help these vulnerable people,” he said.

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Arab World

Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Arab World

UN: 53 Migrants Dead or Missing in Shipwreck Off Libya

(FILES) Migrants sit on board a RHIB (Rigid inflatable boat) after being evacuated by crew members of the “Ocean Viking” rescue ship from the oil tanker the 'Maridive 703' in the search-and-rescue zone of the international waters between Malta and Tunisia, on December 31, 2025. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
(FILES) Migrants sit on board a RHIB (Rigid inflatable boat) after being evacuated by crew members of the “Ocean Viking” rescue ship from the oil tanker the 'Maridive 703' in the search-and-rescue zone of the international waters between Malta and Tunisia, on December 31, 2025. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
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UN: 53 Migrants Dead or Missing in Shipwreck Off Libya

(FILES) Migrants sit on board a RHIB (Rigid inflatable boat) after being evacuated by crew members of the “Ocean Viking” rescue ship from the oil tanker the 'Maridive 703' in the search-and-rescue zone of the international waters between Malta and Tunisia, on December 31, 2025. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
(FILES) Migrants sit on board a RHIB (Rigid inflatable boat) after being evacuated by crew members of the “Ocean Viking” rescue ship from the oil tanker the 'Maridive 703' in the search-and-rescue zone of the international waters between Malta and Tunisia, on December 31, 2025. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)

The UN migration agency on Monday said 53 people were dead or missing after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast. Only two survivors were rescued.

The International Organization for Migration said the boat overturned north of Zuwara on Friday.

"Only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities," the IOM said in a statement, adding that one of the survivors said she lost her husband and the other said "she lost her two babies in the tragedy.”

According to AFP, the IOM said its teams provided the two survivors with emergency medical care upon disembarkation.

"According to survivor accounts, the boat -- carrying migrants and refugees of African nationalities departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at around 11:00 pm on February 5. Approximately six hours later, it capsized after taking on water," the agency said.

"IOM mourns the loss of life in yet another deadly incident along the Central Mediterranean route."

The Geneva-based agency said trafficking and smuggling networks were exploiting migrants along the route from north Africa to southern Europe, profiting from dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats while exposing people to "severe abuse.”

It called for stronger international cooperation to tackle the networks, alongside safe and regular migration pathways to reduce risks and save lives.