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REFUGEES

Against backdrop of bread crisis, UN refugee agency condemns increase in discrimination, violence against refugees in Lebanon

Against backdrop of bread crisis, UN refugee agency condemns increase in discrimination, violence against refugees in Lebanon

A line for bread in Qubb Elias Wednesday morning. (OLJ/Sarah Abdallah)

BEIRUT — In a statement issued Friday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) condemned the "increase in tensions and incitement between different communities [in Lebanon], leading to localized violence in the streets, including against refugees." The comments come against the backdrop of wheat and bread shortages that have left people lining up in front of bakeries, with some officials casting blame on Syrians for the shortages.

Here's what we know:

    • "The impact of the economic crisis in Lebanon is having a devastating impact on everyone, and particularly on the most vulnerable," the UNHCR statement said, calling for continued international support to "ensure the protection of all and the secure access to food and other basic needs." The Lebanese Parliament recently gave the go-ahead for a $150 million loan from the World Bank to purchase wheat, although some MPs criticized the package, saying that most of the wheat would go to benefit "foreigners."

    • The UNHCR statement added that the agency "is increasingly concerned with restrictive practices and discriminatory measures based on nationality that are being introduced and impacting refugees, among others" and "calls on the Lebanese authorities to ensure rule of law and the protection of all persons in the country. The spirit of solidarity and mutual respect that has been the hallmark of communities in Lebanon should prevail. "

    • While the statement does not specifically reference the bread crisis, a UNHCR spokesperson told L'Orient Today, "We have seen general calls on social media not to provide bread to refugees at bakeries, confrontations in front of bakeries targeting refugees, curfews imposed by municipalities, municipalities asking bakeries to prioritize Lebanese when selling bread."

    • In recent days, videos and photos circulated on social media have shown a group of men beating a youth, purportedly Syrian, outside of a bakery in Bourj Hammoud, and others distributing bread "only to the Lebanese" at a bakery in Zahle.

    • In a recent press conference, caretaker Minister of Economy Amin Salam claimed that according to “his sources,” Syrians had consumed 400,000 bags of bread every day in June, stating that the refugees were part of the reason behind the bread crisis. Others, however, have blamed the shortages on traders hoarding subsidized wheat in anticipation of the subsidies being lifted and prices increased, on on bakeries using subsidized wheat for products other than the Arabic bread that it is intended for, in order to generate higher profits.

    • There are also widespread misconceptions about the amount of aid Syrian refugees receive. Contrary to the common perception that refugees receive international assistance in dollars, the payments have been made in Lebanese lira at varying exchange rates. Currently, some families receive assistance of LL1 million (about $35 at the current parallel market rate) per month, while others get LL500,000 (about $18) per person, up to a maximum of six people. Some, but not all, receive both, meaning a household could receive a maximum of LL4 million per month (about $130). The aid amounts were increased in April — previously they stood at LL800,000 per household or LL300,000 per person.

    • Earlier this month, Caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Charafeddine asserted that he had a plan to repatriate Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon at a rate of “15,000 displaced people per month,” but to date no details or concrete action on the plan have emerged.

BEIRUT — In a statement issued Friday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) condemned the "increase in tensions and incitement between different communities [in Lebanon], leading to localized violence in the streets, including against refugees." The comments come against the backdrop of wheat and bread shortages that have left people lining up in front of bakeries, with some officials casting blame on...