The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday urged authorities to take firm action against the arming of displaced Syrians in Lebanon, which it described as “a time bomb.”
The Council called on the government to “develop a political and diplomatic strategy likely to relieve Lebanon of the burden” represented by the massive presence of displaced Syrians, which “threatens Lebanon's demography, equilibrium and economy.”
According to estimates by Lebanese authorities, over two million Syrians have sought refuge in Lebanon since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. But only 830,000 Syrians are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Maronite bishops also welcomed Bkerke's mediation efforts to bring an end to the open strike by Catholic schools. The strike has been going on since December 21, in protest against Parliament's adoption on December 15 of two laws amending certain regulations concerning school budgets and contributions to the Compensation Fund. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai intervened to find a solution.
Following meetings held in Bkerke with the parties concerned, a subcommittee was set up on December 28 to discuss ways to amend the disputed legislation. It is chaired by the caretaker Minister of Education, Abbas Halabi.
In a statement issued at the end of its monthly meeting, the Council stressed “the need to preserve freedom of education and teaching in Lebanon and to adopt laws and administrative and financial measures to this end."
The Council also reiterated its appeal to members of Parliament to elect a president.
Denouncing the war in Gaza, it expressed concern about the situation in South Lebanon. In this context, it stressed that Patriarch Rai's visit to Tyre on December 7, accompanied by the Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Youssef III Younan and an episcopal delegation, was intended to express solidarity with the people of South Lebanon and emphasize the importance of living together. It also “called on local authorities, as well as friends of Lebanon, to work towards the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
Lastly, the Maronite bishops denounced the additional taxes imposed on the population as part of the draft budget law for the 2024 financial year.
The Council called on the government to “develop a political and diplomatic strategy likely to relieve Lebanon of the burden” represented by the massive presence of displaced Syrians, which “threatens Lebanon's demography, equilibrium and economy.”
According to estimates by Lebanese authorities, over two million Syrians have sought refuge in Lebanon since the start of the Syrian war in 2011. But only 830,000 Syrians are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Maronite bishops also welcomed Bkerke's mediation efforts to bring an end to the open strike by Catholic schools. The strike has been going on since December 21, in protest against Parliament's adoption on December 15 of two laws amending certain regulations concerning school budgets and contributions to the Compensation Fund. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai intervened to find a solution.
Following meetings held in Bkerke with the parties concerned, a subcommittee was set up on December 28 to discuss ways to amend the disputed legislation. It is chaired by the caretaker Minister of Education, Abbas Halabi.
In a statement issued at the end of its monthly meeting, the Council stressed “the need to preserve freedom of education and teaching in Lebanon and to adopt laws and administrative and financial measures to this end."
The Council also reiterated its appeal to members of Parliament to elect a president.
Denouncing the war in Gaza, it expressed concern about the situation in South Lebanon. In this context, it stressed that Patriarch Rai's visit to Tyre on December 7, accompanied by the Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Youssef III Younan and an episcopal delegation, was intended to express solidarity with the people of South Lebanon and emphasize the importance of living together. It also “called on local authorities, as well as friends of Lebanon, to work towards the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
Lastly, the Maronite bishops denounced the additional taxes imposed on the population as part of the draft budget law for the 2024 financial year.
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