Humanitarian Crisis: Syrian Alawites Flee Violence into Lebanon

Thousands of Syrian Alawites are fleeing violence in northern Syria and entering Lebanon, particularly into Akkar and Tripoli. This recent surge is a result of clashes between government forces and insurgents, leading to significant civilian casualties and potential sectarian tensions. Lebanese officials express growing concern over the capacity to manage these refugees amid existing socio-political challenges.

In recent days, thousands of Syrian Alawites have crossed into northern Lebanon, seeking refuge from escalating violence in coastal Syria. This influx is primarily observed in Akkar, Lebanon’s northernmost governorate, where ongoing clashes between the government forces led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and loyalists of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad have resulted in significant civilian casualties.

Al-Sharaa asserts that his forces are engaged in combating insurgents who have targeted state authorities and facilities. However, numerous witness accounts shared on social media indicate that the violence is not exclusively affecting pro-Assad militia; rather, many civilians have also fallen victim. This raises concerns of a potential sectarian conflict in the region, particularly within Syria’s predominantly Alawite coastal areas, comprising of Latakia and Tartus, where the Assad regime has substantial support.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the recent violence has claimed over 1,000 lives, including more than 700 Alawites. Consequently, substantial numbers have fled to Akkar and the nearby port city of Tripoli, prompting anxiety among Lebanese officials regarding potential tensions arising within the country as these areas are primarily Sunni yet host significant Alawite populations.

Lebanon Akkar MP Sajih Attieh has expressed concerns over the vast waves of displacement, emphasizing that thousands have resettled in five or six Alawite villages in Akkar, with reports indicating 18 villages accommodating refugees. He stated that approximately 2,000 displaced individuals have arrived in the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood of Tripoli and briefed Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri about the situation, which was subsequently relayed to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Attieh noted that on one day alone, up to 10,000 refugees entered Akkar, utilizing illegal border routes due to the absence of legal crossings resulting from Israeli bombing of major crossing points. He highlighted that the Lebanese army has not impeded the influx of refugees, further complicating the situation along the Lebanon-Syria border, which is characterized by its porous nature and historical challenges of smuggling and human trafficking.

Additionally, Lebanon currently hosts approximately 2 million Syrian refugees since the onset of the war in 2011, with less than a million registered with the UNHCR, while concerns surface regarding the government’s capacity to manage an additional influx. Attieh has urged the need for the Lebanese government to take proactive measures in regulating and tracking the influx of displaced persons, warning that if the situation persists, the population of displaced Syrians may soar to an unprecedented level.

The ongoing violence in Syria has instigated a significant humanitarian crisis, prompting thousands of Syrian Alawites to seek refuge in Lebanon. As the conflict escalates, the prospect of sectarian tensions within Lebanon heightens, necessitating immediate governmental action to manage the influx of refugees. With established issues regarding border security and a substantial pre-existing refugee population, the Lebanese government faces increasingly complex challenges in addressing this crisis.

Original Source: www.newarab.com