Hajjjar: The EU Should Facilitate the Return of Displaced Persons to Their Country

Hector Hajjjar, the Minister of Social Affairs in the caretaker government, confirmed to journalists during his tour in Baalbek that "all committees are working, and there are continuous meetings and communication among ministers to address the current situation following the tensions in the south. We are collaborating with the Disaster Management Committee, and each ministry is doing everything it can with the resources and capabilities available. I have announced the emergency cell, and since yesterday (Friday), the entire team is on standby; we hope nothing happens but we are staying vigilant." He continued: "On Monday, we will be in the south to visit the emergency cells in Sidon, and we will visit the shelter centers in Tyre. Of course, we will visit the advanced locations for service centers, and the centers affected for people with disabilities in Aita al-Shaab and others." In response to a question, Hajjjar said: "I declared my position in front of President Najib Mikati and the Disaster Committee that a camp for Syrian refugees should be established just beyond the Lebanese border, specifically in the area between the Lebanese and Syrian borders, and I sent a clear message on this matter. If the European Union has previously prevented the return of refugees to Syria due to the security situation in Syria, the question we pose to the EU is which security situation is better today: in Lebanon or in Syria? If the answer is Syria, then they should facilitate the return process for the displaced from all over Lebanon to their country, thus relieving this homeland of burden and allowing us all to live in peace."