BEIRUT — Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar stated during a visit to Hermel that at least 85,600 people crossed from Syria into Hermel between last Sunday — the day the Syrian regime was ousted — and Friday.

It was not immediately clear whether this figure represents the number of all those who moved from Syria to Lebanon during this period or only reflects those in Hermel.

According to Hajjar, 52,600 of them, most of whom are Lebanese, are being hosted in homes in Hermel.

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Hajjar added that there are currently 133 informal shelters in the region, including Husseiniyas, mosques, halls and cafes, hosting approximately 33,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), the majority of whom are Syrians.

The minister's first stop was at the LOST Association center, where he met with a group of mayors to assess the conditions of the newly displaced in Hermel.

During the visit, Hajjar told local TV station LBCI that 20,000 Lebanese citizens are among the 85,600 people who crossed the border into Lebanon.

"The situation is difficult, the intervention of associations is primitive, and addressing their humanitarian situation must come first," he said, adding that "the state of the shelters does not encourage people to stay."

He concluded by urging "organizations, led by UNHCR, to take the initiative in providing food, drinking water, and a minimum level of hygiene for the displaced."