The international community is "obliged" to fulfill its pledges towards Lebanon, Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil said Thursday.
Khalil said that the presence of some1.5 million Syrian refugees and half a million Palestinian refugees in Lebanon obliges the international community to deliver on its commitments towards the country that has "endured more than any other state could."
About 25 percent of Lebanon’s inhabitants are refugees. Some 1.1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UNHCR in Lebanon, but many place the real figure at closer to 2 million. Meanwhile, the approximately 400,000 Palestinian refugees live in the 12 Palestinian refugee camps across the country.
The minister, who was speaking at the opening session of a finances committee, said that "Lebanon has played an exceptional role" in handling the flood of refugees’ that have taken shelter in Lebanon.
"The number of refugees is more than one-third of citizens and we have reached a stage where we can't bear this load alone," he continued.
Khalil said that the refugee crisis is compounded by a political crises in the country, at the forefront of which is the absence of a president. Parliament has been unable to agree on a head of state since 2014.
"We hosted refugees and responded, which added a burden to Lebanon of $13 billion, according to a number of reports," Khalil said.
He urged donor countries to start implementing projects directly and without any further delays according to priorities set by the Lebanese government.
"Lebanon will be one way or another more capable of enduring after refugees return to their country," Khalil said. "But we will not cease to demand direct donations to ease the burden."
