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Incitement, tensions rise over Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Controversial statements by Lebanese authorities point to growing frustration over the presence of more than 1 million Syrian refugees in their country.
Syrian children are seen inside an informal settlement for Syrian refugees in Bar Elias, Bekaa valley, Lebanon, January 6, 2016. More than 1 million Syrians are enduring another winter as refugees in Lebanon. For some, it is their fifth in a row, displaced by a war that has driven 4.4 million Syrians into neighbouring states from where many are trying to reach Europe. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi - RTX21K68

BEIRUT — ​As fierce fighting and bombardments continue across Syria since a fragile pause in hostilities shattered, a resolution has arguably never been further off. And in neighboring Lebanon, the Syrian refugee issue is becoming more and more a source of multiple tensions between communities, politicians and countries.

Clearly, frustrations are growing. Last week, some Lebanese ministers and politicians called for repatriation of Syrian refugees. While the proposal is being heavily criticized and shows little chance of succeeding, it reflects increasing vexation over the presence in Lebanon of an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

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