This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30657003
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syrians entering Lebanon face new restrictions | Syrians entering Lebanon face new restrictions |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| New restrictions on Syrians entering Lebanon come into force on Monday, further tightening the flow of asylum seekers trying to escape the war. | New restrictions on Syrians entering Lebanon come into force on Monday, further tightening the flow of asylum seekers trying to escape the war. |
| Previously, travel between the two countries was largely unrestricted, but now Syrians will have to obtain a visa. | Previously, travel between the two countries was largely unrestricted, but now Syrians will have to obtain a visa. |
| It is the latest in a series of steps to stop the influx of refugees. Lebanon already hosts more than a million. | It is the latest in a series of steps to stop the influx of refugees. Lebanon already hosts more than a million. |
| It is unclear what the rule will mean for the many Syrians already in the country and not registered as refugees. | It is unclear what the rule will mean for the many Syrians already in the country and not registered as refugees. |
| Before now, Syrians could stay in Lebanon for up to six months automatically. Under the new measure, Syrians wanting to enter Lebanon will have to fulfil certain criteria in order to be granted a visa at the border. | Before now, Syrians could stay in Lebanon for up to six months automatically. Under the new measure, Syrians wanting to enter Lebanon will have to fulfil certain criteria in order to be granted a visa at the border. |
| Analysis: Paul Wood, BBC News, Beirut | Analysis: Paul Wood, BBC News, Beirut |
| The figures are astonishing. There are some 1.1 million officially registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, perhaps another half a million Syrians who are not registered. | The figures are astonishing. There are some 1.1 million officially registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, perhaps another half a million Syrians who are not registered. |
| So one in three of the population of this tiny, fragile country is a Syrian. It's as if more than 20 million refugees arrived in Britain. | So one in three of the population of this tiny, fragile country is a Syrian. It's as if more than 20 million refugees arrived in Britain. |
| In Lebanon, rents are up, wages are down, and refugee families are living 10 or 15 people to a room, or in makeshift camps in the mud and snow. | In Lebanon, rents are up, wages are down, and refugee families are living 10 or 15 people to a room, or in makeshift camps in the mud and snow. |
| Resentment against Syrians is increasing. Some towns and villages have imposed curfews on the new arrivals, enforced by vigilante groups. Above all, many Lebanese fear the country's religious and sectarian balance is being altered in a way that will eventually trigger a renewed civil war here. | Resentment against Syrians is increasing. Some towns and villages have imposed curfews on the new arrivals, enforced by vigilante groups. Above all, many Lebanese fear the country's religious and sectarian balance is being altered in a way that will eventually trigger a renewed civil war here. |
| Every Syrian wanting to enter the country will need to state a clear purpose for their visit, and, if approved, a visa will be issued for a certain duration. | Every Syrian wanting to enter the country will need to state a clear purpose for their visit, and, if approved, a visa will be issued for a certain duration. |
| Syrians coming to work in Lebanon will also have to be sponsored by a Lebanese individual or company. | Syrians coming to work in Lebanon will also have to be sponsored by a Lebanese individual or company. |
| A spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Lebanon, Ron Redmond, said that over the past six to eight months a number of measures had already reduced the number of people seeking registration as refugees. But the UN had worked out a system with the government to enable the most vulnerable to still gain access. | A spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Lebanon, Ron Redmond, said that over the past six to eight months a number of measures had already reduced the number of people seeking registration as refugees. But the UN had worked out a system with the government to enable the most vulnerable to still gain access. |
| However, Mr Redmond expressed concern about the latest measures in an interview with the BBC's Newsday. | However, Mr Redmond expressed concern about the latest measures in an interview with the BBC's Newsday. |
| "The government says that it will allow those extreme humanitarian cases access but it is not covered in these announcements that have come out the last few days," he said. | "The government says that it will allow those extreme humanitarian cases access but it is not covered in these announcements that have come out the last few days," he said. |
| "We just want something official from the government that outlines how the system works now... so that we can continue to ensure that the most vulnerable refugees can get through. The government says that will be forthcoming so we are just waiting for that - hoping we get it soon." | "We just want something official from the government that outlines how the system works now... so that we can continue to ensure that the most vulnerable refugees can get through. The government says that will be forthcoming so we are just waiting for that - hoping we get it soon." |
| Huge strain | Huge strain |
| Lebanon has long been struggling to cope with the number of refugees fleeing the war in Syria. | Lebanon has long been struggling to cope with the number of refugees fleeing the war in Syria. |
| There are currently more than 1.1 million registered refugees in Lebanon putting a huge strain on the country's infrastructure and resources. | There are currently more than 1.1 million registered refugees in Lebanon putting a huge strain on the country's infrastructure and resources. |
| The Lebanese government says the actual number of refugees in the country is about 1.6 million - equivalent to more than a third of the population. | The Lebanese government says the actual number of refugees in the country is about 1.6 million - equivalent to more than a third of the population. |
| Clearly the Lebanese government wants to reduce the flow, says Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow at the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut. | Clearly the Lebanese government wants to reduce the flow, says Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow at the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut. |
| "The Lebanese are trying to figure out how to really remain helpful to Syrians in real need without destroying their own country," he told the BBC. | "The Lebanese are trying to figure out how to really remain helpful to Syrians in real need without destroying their own country," he told the BBC. |
| The influx of Syrian refugees was putting strain on water, sanitation, health, and the environment and giving rise to political concerns, he said. | The influx of Syrian refugees was putting strain on water, sanitation, health, and the environment and giving rise to political concerns, he said. |
| In October, Lebanon's social affairs minister announced that the country would stop accepting all refugees except emergency cases, but would still allow Syrians to enter for other purposes, such as work and tourism. | In October, Lebanon's social affairs minister announced that the country would stop accepting all refugees except emergency cases, but would still allow Syrians to enter for other purposes, such as work and tourism. |
| The latest UNHCR figures show a total of 3.2m Syrians registered as refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere. | The latest UNHCR figures show a total of 3.2m Syrians registered as refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere. |
| Are you, or is someone you know, affected by this story? Are you a Syrian now living in Lebanon or do you have family from Syria taking refuge in Lebanon? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | |
| Have your say |