The authorities of Beirut and Damascus arranged the safe and voluntary return of 476 refugees who returned to Syria yesterday. They were residing in Shebaa and Bar Elias camp. Syria provided 15 buses that transported the refugees from Shebaa to the village of Beit Jin which became under the control of the Syrian government a few months ago. The convoy was accompanied by the General Security, the Lebanese Army, and the Lebanese Red Cross. UNHCR is not involved in this transfer “considering the prevailing humanitarian and security situation in Syria,” according to
. The percentage of refugees in Lebanon is the highest per capita in the world, which constitutes 30 to 40% of the population. During a meeting with the head of the United Nations’ refugee agency Filippo Grandi in March, President Michel Aoun
the international community to help ease the return of refugees to safe areas in Syria.