Hungary supports Lebanon in settling migration crisis

Hungary is paying several million euros in support to Lebanon, which has been heavily struck by the migration crisis, and offers all political support to enable Syrian refugees in Lebanon to return home, Justice Minister László Trócsányi said on Friday after a two-day visit in Lebanon.

Trócsányi visited a refugee camp near Tripoli run by the United Nations Refugee Agency and studied official procedures and humanitarian services concerning refugees.

The minister told Magyar Távirati Iroda (MTI, lit. transl. Hungarian Telegraphic Office) over the phone that

along with four million Lebanese citizens, there are at least 1 million registered and nearly half a million unregistered Syrian citizens, as well as half a million Palestinians in Lebanon.

The situation seriously burdens the country and generates social tension, he said.

Hungary and Lebanon are maintaining close and friendly relations, Trócsányi said, adding that Hungary considers the stability of Lebanon important and undertakes responsibility especially for the Christian community there.

Hungary has expressed solidarity by providing 3.5 million euros for alleviating the burdens of the migration crisis and an additional 1.5 million euros for the restoration of Christian churches in Lebanon.

Additionally, the Hungarian government has offered scholarships to 250 Syrians in Lebanon and to 50 Lebanese university students, he said.

Trócsányi held lectures at the Saint Joseph University in Lebanon’s supreme court during his visit and met Lebanese counterpart Salim Jreissati to sign a cooperation agreement.

Source: MTI