Hundreds of Syrian Refugees Leave Lebanon for Home Via Routes in Damascus and Homs
(AWP) - Lebanon has resumed arranging Syrian refugees’ “voluntary return to their homeland,” including the group of 300 that was gathered at a border crossing in Aarsal, northern Lebanon, in the early hours of Tuesday.
While Lebanon is overwhelmed with political haggling following Najib Mikati’s caretaker cabinet accepting a 1 billon Euro aid package of from the European Union (EU), hundreds of Syrians are returning home in a third stage of convoys south.
“There are many who wish to return home, but are waiting for approvals,” said Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, who introduced himself as an official in charge of registering the returning refugees, in statements to the Arab World Press (AWP).
“There is only one problem. Some families do not have their full name. The state cancels their trip, because the travelers have to be in the same family. Approvals are granted based on family names, without the husband’s name. This can delay a family’s trip to a later stage,” he explained.
“The voluntary return and convoys are continuing. They [the Lebanese state] gave us pledges that they would go on with the trips. I was given the task to arrange convoys of returnees in several stages,” he added.
Syrians are returning to their country in convoys via two routes, the first heading to al-Qalamun, in the Damascus countryside, and the second to the city of Homs.