Repercussions of Displaced Syrians Addressed in Committee Meeting

The burgeoning crisis of displaced Syrians in Lebanon was addressed on Wednesday during a ministerial committee meeting, in charge with studying the file, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Saad Hariri in an effort to approve a strategy for managing the crisis and its repercussions on the Lebanese arena, media reports said on Thursday.

Sources that took part in the meeting told al-Joumhouria daily that discussions focused on an overall political plan based on the "Lebanon Crisis Response," announced on January 19, so as to reach a comprehensive idea that will be presented to the international community and donor countries to determine Lebanon's share of international aid, as determined by the Lebanese government.

According to information, the plan shall be based on the available figures about the number of displaced Syrians in Lebanon, which amounted to 2.5 million displaced people, including a million and one hundred thousand registered with the General Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The plan shall also propose the allocation of 2.48 billion dollars to cope with the repercussions of the displacement in human terms, part of which is to be devoted to provide economic stability in the framework of a comprehensive development plan to support the economy and infrastructure.

The committee agreed on the completion of the plan by the end of March, after-which it will be circulated on donors and the international community in support of the plans for the displaced.

On April 5 and 6, Lebanon will partake in a special conference on Syria hosted by the European Union in Brussels.