UNHCR spokeswoman in the Middle East: We work according to International standards

UNHCR spokeswoman in the Middle East Roula Amin voiced on Tuesday regrets over the decision taken by the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry to freeze the residency permits of the agency’s staff.

“Such a decision affects the work of the agency,” Amin said during an interview with LBCI Nharkom said TV show.

She also noted that the UNHCR woks according main International standards, noting that the agency is not scaring the Syrian refugees from returning to Syria.

“Our duty is to look for permanent solutions,” she added.

Amin stressed that the agency respected the situation in Lebanon and the wish of the Lebanese state and worked since day one on the return of the refugees to their homeland.

“Forcing the refugee to return to their country contradicts the International law, we speak with the refugees to know the reason behind their decision and we respect their decision to return,” she went on saying.

Amin explained that the most important factor is the safety of the refugee.

For his part, head of Foreign Affirs Ministry’s office Hadi Hachem asserted that the ministry does not wasn’t any International aid that aims at keeping the refugees in the country.

“The Lebanese Constitution objects the settlement and we respect all Lebanese law,” he stressed.

“If the return of any refugee poses a threat on him must be helped here, but whoever wants to return must have his decision respected,” Hachem added.

He concluded by saying that many Syrian regions are now safe, adding that the ministry is capable of finding solutions that preserves the return of Syrian refugees in dignity and safety.

Last week, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil ordered the freeze of residency applications the UNHCR has submitted for its staff,after accusing the agency of hampering the return of refugees to Syria by "spreading fear".
 
Syrian refugees now account for around a quarter of the Lebanese population – only around 1 million are registered with the United Nations.

The Lebanese government wants the refugees to start going home; the UN stresses that it's not safe for them to return now.