BEIRUT — The second group of Syrian refugees in Lebanon might be heading home from the border town of Arsal on July 7 if all goes according to plan. Arsal's mayor, Bassel al-Hujeiri, told Al-Monitor, “The number of displaced in Arsal alone exceeds 40,000. Those who want to return to Syria will be divided into batches. The second wave will leave July 7 if the Syrian authorities approve the 500 names and if the return is voluntary and based on [the Syrians’] request.” The refugees' return to Syria has sparked controversy in Lebanon and has led to friction between the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and the UN refugee agency the UNHCR.
Lebanese General Security had accompanied the first convoy of displaced Syrians bound for home on June 28, leaving them at the Zemrani border crossing. The UNHCR, which worked at the Arsal refugee camp, had been in contact with the 294 Syrians about returning and had coordinated with the security forces.
