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Picture belonging to the same blog:© The
Daily Star/Mohammad Azakir - Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk
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BEIRUT: Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk Thursday issued new,
stricter requirements for Palestinians from Syria entering Lebanon, prompting a
human rights group to urge the government to continue allowing in all refugees and
avoid further deportations.
“There is no decision preventing Palestinian refugees in Syria from
entering Lebanon and passing through the country,” Machnouk said in a
statement, adding “requirements have been put in place to organize the entry
process” for them.
The new rules come in the wake of last weekend’s deportation of some
40 Palestinians back to Syria, after they were allegedly caught with forged
documents at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut.
The new rules state that in order to enter Lebanon,
Palestinianrefugees from Syria must now possess one of three Lebanese
documents: an entry permit approved by the General Directorate of General
Security, a residency of one to three years or an exit and return permit.
Those who want to travel through Beirut’s airport may do so as long
as they have the necessary documents or visas required by the third country.
Palestinian refugees from Syria coming through the airport will be
given a transit permit valid for 24 hours.
Machnouk stressed these requirements could be altered according to the
security situation in Syria.
