Workshop entitled Lebanon and the Syrian displacement – burdens and priority of the return at the Army Center of Research and Strategic Studies – el –Rihanieh

The Army Center of Research and Strategic Studies – El –Rihanieh organized a workshop entitled “the Syrian displacement – burdens and priority of the return”. The workshop was attended by Ambassador Charbel Wehbe who represented His Excellency the President of the Republic General Michel Aoun, Minister of State for Refugees Affairs Mr. Mouin el-Merehbi, Brigadier General Charbel Abou Khalil who represented Minister of National Defense Yaacoub Riyad el-Sarraf and Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun in addition to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon Mr. Philippe Lazzarini as well as diplomatic, academic, economic figures and army officers.

The workshop initiated with speeches delivered successively by the Director of the Army Center of Research and Strategic Studies Brigadier General Fadi Abi Farraj, Minister Mouin el-Merehbi, engineer Nehmat Ephrem and Mr. Lazzarini. The speeches highlighted the reality of the Syrian displacement in Lebanon and its challenges from the economic, security and humanitarian points of view as well as the local and international measures taken to handle this case and to ensure the safe return of the displaced to their country.

Following the opening session, the participants discussed during 4 sessions the challenges of the Syrian displacement into Lebanon and its economic, social, educational, environmental, legal and security repercussions in addition to discussing the general political situation and the priority of the return. At the conclusion of the discussions, Brigadier General Abi Farraj read the closing statement and recommendations.