Syrian Refugees Now Equal One-Third Of Lebanon’s Population

US leads with assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon but budget battles and a lack of sufficient support from wealthy Arab states threaten to exacerbate Lebanon’s “existential” crisis.
UNHCR's Representative in Lebanon Ninette Kelley sits with Syrian refugee children inside a makeshift room in Alman town, in the Shouf area in Mount Lebanon, during her visit to the refugees on the occasion of the World Refugee Day, June 20, 2013. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY IMMIGRATION) - RTX10UV3
UNHCR's Representative in Lebanon Ninette Kelley sits with Syrian refugee children inside a makeshift room in Alman town, in the Shouf area in Mount Lebanon, during her visit to the refugees on World Refugee Day, June 20, 2013. - REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
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Barbara Slavin
@BarbaraSlavin1

Of all the foreign countries affected by the Syrian civil war, none has been impacted more seriously than Lebanon, where the Syrian refugee population is approaching 1 million – nearly a third of the Lebanese population.

In Washington on Tuesday, US, UN and Lebanese officials appealed for more support from regional as well as international donors and urged the US Congress not to let budget battles reduce American assistance of $254 million, currently the largest single contribution to Syrian refugee relief in Lebanon.

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