General Security announces 'exceptional' measures for Syrians entering Lebanon

BEIRUT — The General Directorate of General Security announced on Wednesday that it was imposing "exceptional measures" to control the entry of Syrian nationals into Lebanon, whether by land, sea or air.

General Security (GS) published the details on entry conditions on its website, following an announcement on Tuesday that new measures would be implemented to “offer additional facilities to Syrian nationals and Palestinian refugees from Syria wishing to return home, whether they entered Lebanon legally or illegally and regardless of the extent of their non-compliance with Lebanese laws.”

Individuals wishing to enter Lebanon are divided into several categories, each subject to specific procedures and documents. These include holders of a valid residence permit, travelers on business visits, students enrolled in Lebanese institutions, entry for medical treatment, as well as transit through Lebanese territory. GS' Wednesday announcement also concerns truck drivers in public transport, domestic workers, U.N. personnel, and members of professional unions.

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Following the outbreak of the Civil War in Syria in 2011, Lebanon became host to waves of people displaced by violence, accumulating at an estimated 1.5 million. Syrian refugees in Lebanon often live in informal camps and make up a significant portion of the work force in low-paying and labor intensive jobs.

The presence of Syrian refugees, who often face racism and discrimination, fuels security fears among Lebanese authorities, who, especially since the fall of the Assad regime in December, but also before, have pushed for Syrians to return to their homeland, despite a fragile security situation there that has resulted in several outbursts of deadly violence.