Ivo Freijsen, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Relations between the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been at an all-time low since UNHCR representative in Lebanon Ivo Freijsen sent a missive to the Interior Ministry on May 17, expressing concern about the “inhumane measures” taken against Syrian refugees and migrants, and reminding Lebanon of its obligations under international conventions.
The missive was eventually withdrawn at the Lebanese authorities’ request. At a time when the controversy surrounding the presence of Syrians is growing bigger, L’Orient-Le Jour has met a UNHCR representative in Lebanon since January 2023, Ivo Freijsen, an Arabic-speaking Dutch national with some 30 years of experience in conflict resolution, displacement, refugees and the humanitarian field in the Middle East, Africa and the Gulf countries.
Controversy is raging between the Lebanese authorities and the UNHCR. How are you reacting to this?
The UNHCR coordinates all aspects of its work in Lebanon with the relevant government authorities, and in no way undermines the country’s laws, regulations or sovereignty.
UNHCR firmly refutes these assertions and continues to warn against public statements and rumors that perpetuate false or negative sentiments that could pose a risk to social cohesion. There is no international conspiracy to keep Syrian refugees in Lebanon and there is no hidden agenda in this regard.
We have always been very transparent about our position: The UN, including UNHCR, is not hindering the return of refugees to Syria. UNHCR reiterates its recognition of the challenges Lebanon faces in hosting large numbers of refugees, particularly in the context of the country’s multi-faceted crisis.
We spare no effort to advocate and contribute to the achievement of durable solutions for refugees outside Lebanon. We aim to engage in constructive, honest dialogue and collaboration with the Lebanese authorities. We see ourselves as close partners.
The Lebanese authorities accuse UNHCR of withholding data on Syrian refugees. Why don’t you hand them over?
Last year, we discussed this issue with the Lebanese authorities. We reached an agreement and handed over the data. Very recently, we received a new request for additional data. UNHCR is taking this very seriously. We intend to be receptive. It is not our interest to ignore, deny or be seen as obstructionist. We are a collaborative body.
NGOs claim that the authorities could hand over this data to the Syrian regime. Is this what you fear?
Whenever UNHCR is asked to share data, a prior discussion takes place with the authorities on the purposes of the request and its safeguards. This is because UNHCR is the custodian of refugee protection and refugee data. This procedure is applied across the globe, and member states expect that from UNHCR, given that the agency has an international mandate.
Do you consider all Syrians in Lebanon as refugees, knowing that some of them are economic migrants?
We are not saying that all Syrians in Lebanon are refugees. Since 2011, all Syrians who have approached UNHCR and indicated to have protection concerns and conflict-related reasons are considered refugees by the international community, in line with international standards. For these reasons, they have left Syria and cannot return.
How many Syrian refugees are there in Lebanon, according to the UNHCR?
There are 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, registered and unregistered [in March 2024, 779,645 were registered with the UNHCR]. These figures are not only those of the UNHCR but also those based on which we have been working for years with the Lebanese authorities to set up our strategy, as part of our joint efforts for humanitarian aid.
As for the overall Syrian presence, including workers in particular, estimated by some at 2.5 million, this is not within our remit; we have not estimated it.
In early May, the UNHCR announced that it was reducing the ceiling of health care coverage for refugees in Lebanon. Why did this happen?
UNHCR needs financial resources from donor institutions, governments and member states. If funds are shrinking, we have to make tough decisions that affect the beneficiaries we can no longer support. The reduction in healthcare coverage concerns the program for Syrian refugees and the money earmarked for vulnerable Lebanese hospitals, institutions and communities, as in recent years our assistance efforts have diversified given the deterioration in socio-economic conditions.
In 2024, we hope to implement a $200 million program. By way of example, at the end of 2023, UNHCR funding stood at around $218,600,000, compared with just over $314,000,000 in 2018. This shows the decline in funds allocated to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
What is UNHCR’s position on the “voluntary return” measures taken by the Lebanese authorities?
UNHCR is not opposed to voluntary return. In all refugee crises, safe, dignified and voluntary return is seen as one of the main durable solutions. We hope that in Syria we will see conditions that will allow this more in the years to come.
On the other hand, today only a small number of Syrians are returning to their country because of the remaining challenges in Syria. The international community and UNHCR believe that there are still obstacles to large-scale return in the short term.
At the same time, we hope that non-humanitarian actors can do what is necessary to create better conditions. This will make the prospect of more people returning on a sustainable basis a realistic one. Return is not a movement across the border. A successful return means that a family can return to live in the house where it used to live, or that one of its members can find work.
It also means the availability of basic social services. It’s the absence of negative reactions or discrimination on the part of family and friends who stayed there. We fear that, if the return is unsuccessful, people will become highly dependent on aid and return to Lebanon] or try to reach Europe.
Is the UNHCR present in Syria? Is it in dialogue with the Syrian regime?
We have an office in Damascus and sub-offices. We are holding discussions with the Syrian authorities on the conditions we hope can be created further allowing for a large-scale return.
We are working very actively in Syria, along with other organizations. The more aid and funding we receive to help regain our role across Syria, the better the conditions will be for a large-scale return, eventually.
Are there safe zones where refugees can return?
Return is linked to why they fled. These are not only linked to the geographical area but also to personal conditions, destroyed houses, family conditions, cases of discrimination, etc.
Are there any long-term solutions planned? Will these issues be addressed at the Brussels conference on May 27?
The resettlement of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to third countries is part of this, albeit on a small scale. Since the beginning of the crisis, we have resettled 100,000 refugees in third countries. The annual average is between 9,000 and 10,000, of all nationalities, the majority of them Syrian.
What we need, however, are serious commitments to lasting solutions from the Syrian government and the international community. That’s what we’ll be saying at the Brussels conference.
We will also say that Syria’s neighboring countries, which have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis for years, must continue to be supported and recognized, and must be given a perspective on how this crisis will evolve in the years to come.
This article was originally published in L'Orient-Le Jour.