European aid to Lebanon intended to address the migrant crisis has inadvertently supported human rights violations, a report by Human Rights Watch reveals. Lebanon, already burdened by financial woes and escalating tensions with Israel, hosts the highest per capita refugee population globally, with 775,000 registered Syrian refugees.
Since 2020, the EU has allocated 16.7 million euros for border management in Lebanon, with an additional 32 million euros recently approved until 2025. Interviews conducted for the report found that 15 out of 16 Syrian migrants experienced abuses by Lebanese and Cypriot authorities while attempting to reach Europe by sea.
Abuse of refugees
The Lebanese army has reportedly abandoned Syrian refugees at the Lebanon-Syria border, leading to their detention by the Syrian army and extortion by smugglers. On the other hand, Cyprus has halted processing Syrian asylum applications, denying migrants the chance to seek asylum.
Cyprus acknowledges the strain of the migrant influx on its resources, emphasizing the need to balance legal obligations with on-ground realities. The situation highlights the challenges faced by countries dealing with such crises.
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