BEIRUT: The Lebanese army has stopped about 700 Syrians, illegally trying to cross the border over the past week, AFP reported on Wednesday.
Citing Lebanese army, the report said Lebanon’s army prevented, about 700 Syrians from crossing the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Millions of Syrians have already left the country since the war started in 2011.
A security official told AFP that worsening economic conditions in Syria had forced the people to flee their homeland, with many trying to reach Europe. He did not provide any data to substantiate his claims.
On condition of anonymity he said Syrians are fleeing due to the economic situation and inflation in the country. He said the Syrian pound has almost collapsed
Syria’s 12-year conflict has deryued most of the country’s infrastructure and industry and the majority of Syrian population is facing poverty.
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The Syrian government last week lifted fuel subsidies forcing the public to protest against the decision that would add to economic woes of the people.
On August 12, Lebanon’s army claimed to arrest 134 migrants, most of them Syrians, near the northern border with Syria while trying to take a boat to Europe.
Lebanon is also facing worst economic situation thus not in a position to allow Syrians to come into the country to find jobs.
Lebanese population along with Syrian and Palestinian refugees is finding ways to leave the country to reach Europe.
Lebanon is currently hosting around two million Syrians, while more than 800,000 are registered with the United Nations.
