More than 52,000 Lebanese citizens and 125,000 displaced Syrians have crossed into Syria since the onset of Israeli military actions last week, according to a source from Syria's General Directorate of Migration and Passports.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mobilizing resources to address the influx of refugees, a UNHCR official said on Monday.
Ambrose Chiu, senior repatriation officer of UNHCR in Syria, confirmed at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing, located in the countryside near Damascus, that the UN agency is actively collaborating with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to provide immediate assistance to incoming Lebanese refugees and Syrian returnees.
On the morning of Sept 24, UNHCR observed a significant number of people approaching the borders, with many arriving after traveling a long journey on foot. As the situation evolved, UNHCR teams quickly began offering basic support to the growing number of arrivals, Chiu said.
Lebanon, which has been grappling with ongoing tensions with Israel, has experienced a sharp rise in refugees fleeing the conflict.
The Syrian government has pledged to provide comprehensive support to facilitate the entry process for the incoming families.
Syria and Lebanon share approximately 375 km of border, with the Jdeidat Yabous crossing, known as the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon, serving as one of the five major routes between the two countries.
170,000 plus refugees pour into Syria in days
170,000 plus refugees pour into Syria in days
