Caabu Parliamentary delegation returns from visiting Syrian refugees and activists in Lebanon – January 2012
Caabu Parliamentary delegation returns from visiting Syrian refugees and activists in Lebanon – January 2012
Caabu organised a Parliamentary delegation to Lebanon from 5-10 January for three Members of Parliament - Andy Love MP, Richard Graham MP and Tony Lloyd MP. They were accompanied by Caabu Director, Chris Doyle.
The delegation’s aims were to assess the impact of the crisis in Syria on Lebanon; the situation facing Syrians in Lebanon, including refugees; and to hear from them accounts of the situation inside Syria itself. It was the first parliamentary delegation from any country to visit Wadi Khalid in north Lebanon to meet the increasing numbers of Syrian refugees there. The MPs met a wide variety of Syrian opposition leaders and activists both in Beirut and Tripoli. The delegation also discussed the issue of Syrian refugees with the UNHCR and ICRC.
Commenting on the visit, Andy Love MP, Caabu’s co-Chair, commented: “The Syrian refugees in Lebanon left the horrors of Assad’s repression in Syria to become the latest pawn in the minefield that is Lebanese politics. From what we saw, the way they have been treated is far from satisfactory. Their rights as refugees must be respected, and they must not be treated as Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have been: denied even the most basic of rights.”
The delegation also looked into other challenges Lebanon is facing and the state of UK-Lebanese relations. The MPs met senior Lebanese politicians including the Prime Minister, Najib Miqati; the speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri; and the leader of the Druze community, Walid Jumblatt; as well as a range of Lebanese academics and journalists. The delegation also visited the UN Palestinian refugee camps of Shatila and Bourj al-Barajneh with UNRWA, and discussed the situation facing Palestinians with Medical Aid for Palestinians.
For further details please contact Chris Doyle on doylec@caabu.org or on 07968 040281