Lebanese minister highlights repercussions to increasing number of Syrian refugees

 Repercussions due to the increasing number of Syrian refugees to Lebanon's social, economic, security, and political statuses is greatly dangerous, Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas said on Thursday.
Derbas highlighted the gravity of the Syrian refugees' dossier, stressing the dire need for a unified national stance in addressing this predicament.
The Minister remarks came during a symposium organized by "Issam Fares Center for Lebanese Affairs" on Syrian refugees, saying such a file is equivalent to Lebanon's existence and independence.
"This jam should be considered from the perspective of achieving the nation's higher interests and the state's preservation... rather than a chip in a political battle," Derbas added.
The Minister also gave a presentation on available numbers and data on the distribution of refugees in most Lebanese areas.
He indicated that refugees constitute nowadays one-third of Lebanon's population, with 45 percent of them coming from areas far from the borders with Lebanon, citing the example of Raqqa, Qamishli, Daraa and others.