Hayya Bina I Issue 01, September 2015] HAYYA

Citizens on Hold BINA HAYYAKeeping an eye on the issue of Syrian BINA refugees in Lebanon [ A pilot project by Hayya Bina I Issue 01, September 2015] HAYYA n September 2, 2015, the which indicates that the number Obody of 3-year-old Aylan al- of Syrian refugees in Lebanon Kurdi washed up on a Turkish shore decreased by 150,000 between near Bodrum. That event capped January and August 2015. In fact, a particularly grim summer for the that change reduced the official millions of Syrian refugees scattered number of Syrians registered with the throughout the world. Yet while the UNHCR to 1,113,941 as of September image of the small, lifeless body 1.1 Furthermore, Syrian migration to lying face down in the sand put Lebanon has largely been halted, the human costs of the Syrian war even though the number of Syrian in tragically stark relief, the ensuing refugees in Turkey has increased by outpouring of international emotion more than 200,000 since June.2 seemed to add something of a “silver lining” to the clouds that Several noteworthy events involving gathered as a result of Aylan's Syrian refugees occurred in Lebanon death. But that goodwill also put during September. On August 25, the global community's politicians the governor of Baalbeck-Hermel in an immediate bind. At the very held a press conference attended least, the event increased pressure by security officials, ministerial on European and U.S. policy makers and UNHCR representatives (and to respond more generously to the representatives from several NGOs) world’s worst refugee crisis since the to announce a plan to move 1,238 partition of the British Indian Empire in tents serving as temporary shelters 1947. for some 7,000 Syrian refugees from 1 the eastern part of al-Qaa (near In Lebanon, Syrian refugees remained the Lebanese-Syrian border) to its trapped in precarious conditions, as western part.3 Interestingly, it appears has been the case since the start of the Syrian war (particularly following 1 For decrease in refugees registered, see: file:///Users/ evanpheiffer/Downloads/Inter-agencyOctoberUpdate- the restrictive Lebanese legislation 2015-11-04.pdf. For refugees registered as of September introduced in 2014 – 2015 and the 2015, see: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon- News/2015/Sep-16/315396-syrian-refugees-registered- cuts made in July 2015 to World Food with-un-fewer-by-60000.ashx Program aid vouchers). Indeed, 2 http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/15/us-mideast- crisis-syria-refugees-idUSKCN0RF10M20150915 these developments can very likely 3 http://nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/show-news/176214/nna-leb.gov. be explained by the UNHCR data, lb/ar This newsletter is published by Hayya Bina as part of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung- funded program “Keeping Pace with Lebanon's Challenging Syrian Refugee Issues.” However, the views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of Hayya Bina and do not necessarily reflect those of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. www.hayyabina.org Al-Akhbar was the only media outlet to the Assad regime) of a story that to actually read and understand referenced the impending arrival the import of that announcement. of ships sent to transport large It reported on September 4 that numbers of refugees to Germany.5 the true nature of the move was to Despite unequivocal denials by establish the first officially recognized the embassy, refugees continued “camp” for Syrian refugees.4 While to arrive, no doubt influenced by the governor predictably extolled the Germany’s status as one of the most humanitarian and altruistic aspects accommodating countries toward of the plan (and did not overlook refugees.6 Speaking to Hayya Bina, its inherent security benefits), it is one well-placed source mentioned common knowledge that the reason the possibility that the rumors being behind the transfer is exclusively spread by ad-Diyar may have been security oriented, given the extremely little more than a politically directed complex demographic makeup of scheme. the population that resides on both sides of the border. Notably, al-Qaa Also during September, the is a predominantly Catholic area Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) raided that has experienced substantial several Syrian refugee settlements. real estate problems with its Sunni The larger operations focused on neighbors south of the northern Zgharta (September 5), where 19 Bekaa pocket of Orsal. On the other people were arrested for failing side of the border, several places to have proper documentation. in Syria's Qalamoun area (facing On September 21, 80 Syrians al-Qaa) are controlled by ISIL. were detained in al-Qaa for the 7,8 Undeniably, the area is especially same reason. Interestingly, sensitive. Beyond that consideration, it was not that the raids were the government's initiative may be particularly newsworthy; rather, interpreted as a pilot program for the it was the reasons used to justify establishment of “camps” for Syrian the arrests made: a lack of proper refugees in some areas of Lebanon— documentation. By extension, 2 an initiative intended to be pursued therefore, since Lebanon does without evoking the “camp trauma” not recognize Syrian refugees as many Lebanese were forced to “refugees” per se (and seems confront due to their experience with unlikely to do so anytime soon) but the Palestinian refugee issue. instead requires them to observe the regulations that pertain to resident Also in early September, the foreigners, we can be certain that German Embassy in the Mtaileb 4 area east of Beirut was inundated http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/241380 5 Ad-Diyar, September 7, 2015 by Syrian refugees hoping to gain 6 http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/189582 passage to the country. That rush 7 https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon- occurred following the publication News/2015/Sep-05/314087-army-arrests-19-syrians-for- illegally-entering-lebanon.ashx by Lebanese newspaper ad-Diyar 8 http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/49996/Army-raids- (recognized as being sympathetic Kaa-arrests-80-Syrians www.hayyabina.org the lack of proper documentation importance of passing a law that will continue to be used—and would enable foreigners of Lebanese sometimes abused—by Lebanese descent to reclaim their Lebanese authorities! citizenship and warned that an increasing number of refugees from Throughout September, Lebanon's Syria would be directed toward political scene was dominated the United States when Lebanon primarily by the “garbage crisis” and eventually Europe became and its ensuing protests and political unable to manage the tremendous fallout. However, some references influx of people.11 The next day in were made to Syrian refugees, Boston, Bassil warned members of perhaps the most notable of which the Lebanese diaspora that efforts came from Lebanese Foreign Minister were being made through “force Gebran Bassil (who leads the Free and war” to increase the Muslim Patriotic Movement (FPM) and is presence in Lebanon at the expense the son-in-law of its previous head, of the country's Christians, and Michel Aoun). At a September 5 he spoke of the “reactions” such FPM rally in Beirut to support Aoun's efforts are likely to cause. Bassil presidential campaign, Bassil told added that Lebanon was under supporters that he would seek simultaneous threats of “migration” “the return of all the refugees and and “terrorism.”12 The additional displaced people to their homelands, significance of Bassil's statements is so that Lebanon survives.”9 He made that in most cases, they were made similar statements throughout the in his capacity as foreign minister. In month, such as on September 10 other words, he was representing the when he advised Syrian refugees to Lebanese State rather than just his return to (non-existent) “safe zones” own political party when he made within Syria. Bassil underscored that such observations. Despite this, his sentiment during a September 15 comments drew little reaction from press conference with his Brazilian his fellow Lebanese politicians, which counterpart, during which he also could indicate a broad consensus 3 emphasized the pressure being with his point of view. Alternatively, it placed on Lebanese institutions by could simply signal antipathy toward displaced Syrians.10 Bassil's opinions. Bassil took his reasoning a step 9 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon- further on September 26 when he News/2015/Sep-04/313999-fpm-supporters-converge- on-martyrs-square.ashx addressed the Lebanese-American 10 For September 10 comments, see “Lebanon foreign Club in Danbury, Connecticut. He minister urges Arab countries to share Syria refugee burden,” at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/re implied during his presentation that fdaily?pass=52fc6fbd5&date=2015-09-11&cat=MENA/. the latest incidents in Lebanon were For September 15 comments, see September 16, 2015, Al-Liwaa, p.2 (Arabic). orchestrated simply to “exchange 11 http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/50221/nna-leb.gov. the Lebanese… [with] other peoples, lb/en 12 whether Syrians, Palestinians http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/50239/Bassil- from-Boston-Some-try-to-impose-Islam-on-Lebanon- or others.” He also stressed the through-force-and-war www.hayyabina.org Michel Aoun (mentioned above) help disclose the priorities of the made similarly controversial British government and other foreign statements the same month. On countries. Cameron’s itinerary began September 15, the day after British with a visit to a refugee camp, PM David Cameron’s visit to Lebanon which was followed by a meeting at (see below), Aoun accused the Riyak Airbase (Bekaa) with the LAF's international community—namely commander in chief (the meeting Europe and the Arab countries—of with the Lebanese prime minister was conspiring to settle massive numbers apparently of lesser importance).

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