Over 30,000 people have crossed into Syria fleeing the escalating conflict in Lebanon, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on September 27, 2024. The majority of these individuals are Syrians who previously fled their own country's civil war.
Border crossings are being opened 24 hours a day to facilitate the entry of Syrians and Lebanese, who are being allowed into Syria indefinitely without the usual documentation requirements.
UNHCR representative in Syria, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, reported via video call that half of those arriving are children, while women make up the second largest group. Currently, 80% of the arrivals are Syrian nationals, with the remainder being Lebanese.
Vargas Llosa emphasized the incredibly difficult choice faced by these individuals, knowing they are entering a country grappling with a severe crisis and a collapsed economy due to thirteen years of internal conflict. Among the new arrivals are many injured individuals, including a woman who arrived carrying her two deceased children to bury them in Lebanon.
He highlighted the generosity of the Syrian government, which is leading the humanitarian response in collaboration with the Syrian Red Crescent and UNHCR. Tragically, UNHCR has lost two workers and their family members due to Israeli bombings in Lebanon.
Upon arrival, Lebanese and Syrians receive essential aid, including food, water, and clothing, and are directed to reception centers that have been established.