BEIRUT: Uneven distribution of aid to displaced Syrians could exacerbate tensions with host communities in Lebanon and deepen the sectarian segregation that has already started to manifest in refugee settlement patterns, top relief coordinators said Monday.
Most of the Syrians fleeing the violence over the border have settled in areas of Lebanon that have historically been marginalized, placing them in direct competition for resources and jobs with struggling Lebanese families. This, combined with the fact that many are drawn toward their own confessional or ethnic community, has created an extremely delicate situation for those tasked with managing the refugee crisis.
“The borders are open for everybody ... but at the end of the day, let’s be realistic: This is a country that has been stricken by war, that is highly politicized, so it is only fair to say that these people are coming into regions where they feel they are somehow welcomed,” said Ramzi Naaman, who heads Lebanon’s Syrian refugee response plan.
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