Latest news with #YasmineJaroudi
LBCI
2 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Return plan takes off: First convoy of Syrian refugees returns from Lebanon
Report by Joe Farchakh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Seventy-seven Syrian refugees departed Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing on Tuesday, marking the first phase of a government-led plan for their organized return to Syria. The initiative, launched on July 1, 2025, is being implemented by Lebanon's General Security Directorate in coordination with Syrian authorities, and with the presence of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Though modest in number, the departure of two buses signaled a long-awaited political decision and the practical beginning of a pilot phase that the Lebanese government sees as critical in tackling one of its most pressing and complex challenges. Each refugee was allowed one suitcase weighing up to 30 kilograms inside the buses, while each family was allotted four cubic meters in an accompanying truck for larger belongings such as furniture and household items, according to information obtained by LBCI. Lebanon currently hosts nearly two million Syrian refugees, of whom around 1.45 million are registered with the UNHCR. The rest either entered the country legally but did not renew their residency permits or crossed the border irregularly. General Security has so far removed more than 120,000 names from UNHCR lists after confirming that those individuals had already returned to Syria. Meanwhile, registration for voluntary return remains ongoing. Over 20,000 refugees, primarily those registered with the UNHCR, have signed up so far. The plan also includes Syrians residing in Lebanon without valid permits who wish to return home. As the first buses slowly made their way toward the Syrian border, they carried not only passengers but years of displacement, political deadlock, and humanitarian uncertainty. While hopes are high for the success of this initiative, a lingering question remains: will the return be sustainable?
LBCI
2 days ago
- Business
- LBCI
Banking reform law reaches Lebanese Parliament: What it means for depositors
Report by Lea Fayad, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi After years of delays, Lebanon's long-awaited banking reform law has finally reached the Parliament for approval in a general session. The latest draft introduces key amendments that directly impact depositors, particularly those with multiple accounts in different banks. One of the most significant changes guarantees account independence. Under the revised version, if a depositor holds three separate accounts at three different banks, each with $100,000 or more, they would be entitled to reclaim up to $300,000 in total. This marks a sharp departure from the government's original proposal, which would have capped compensation at $100,000 per individual, regardless of the number of accounts held or the banks involved. Another major shift prioritizes individual depositors over public institutions. While the government's previous version gave full repayment priority to public sector deposits, the new draft restores precedence to private depositors seeking to recover their savings. Passing the law is seen as a positive step, but observers note it remains incomplete. The law's actual implementation hinges on the adoption of a separate piece of legislation: the Financial Regularization and Deposit Recovery Law. That law will determine how financial losses are apportioned between the state, the Banque du Liban (BDL), commercial banks, and depositors. This is where the process gets more complex. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber has pledged to submit the financial regularization bill to the Parliament within six months. However, skepticism remains high. Nearly six years have passed since Lebanon's financial collapse began, with successive governments failing to push through a deposit recovery mechanism. Meanwhile, citizens' deposits remain effectively frozen, widely seen as a violation of their rights. For many, unless the upcoming legislation offers a genuine solution to the banking crisis, current efforts may be viewed as little more than political maneuvering ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Year-end deadline for mass returns: Lebanon moves to close chapter on Syrian refugees
Report by Joe Farchakh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Since May 1, 2025, more than 440,000 Syrian nationals have left Lebanon, marking a significant shift in the country's handling of the longstanding refugee crisis. While the figure is striking, officials say the real story lies in what it represents: a turning point in Lebanon's political stance and operational policy toward the presence of Syrian refugees. In recent months, the context surrounding the refugee issue has undergone significant changes. With the Syrian regime falling and a growing international push to ease sanctions, the original justifications for asylum—political persecution and security concerns—have largely dissipated. The United Nations has also scaled back its assistance programs, leaving many Syrians without international aid. Lebanon now argues the refugee situation has transitioned into an economic migration crisis, rather than a humanitarian one. On July 1, a ministerial committee led by Minister Tarek Mitri launched Lebanon's first official plan for the organized return of Syrian refugees. Over 17,000 individuals have registered to repatriate so far. The shift is backed by a unified political stance—uncharacteristically free of partisan gridlock—and endorsed by the Lebanese presidency, government, and security institutions. A significant factor in operationalizing the returns is the Lebanese General Security's new initiative. It includes sweeping legal exemptions for undocumented Syrians who voluntarily leave by the end of September 2025, with the possibility of extending that deadline through the end of the year. These individuals will not face fines or re-entry bans, but those who remain in the country illegally could be subject to arrest. The plan also rejects a previous UNHCR proposal called "Go and See," which would have allowed refugees to test life in Syria and return to Lebanon if conditions proved challenging. General Security chief Major General Hassan Choucair dismissed that approach, pointing out that refugees currently in Lebanon enjoy international aid—financial support, healthcare, and education—which would naturally make them reluctant to leave or unlikely to remain in Syria once they visit. LBCI has learned that some Syrians are already living in Syria but return to Lebanon at the start of each month to collect aid, then return home. To curb such practices, the Lebanese government has developed its own refugee database in cooperation with the UNHCR, identifying nearly two million Syrians currently in the country, including both registered and unregistered individuals. Once a refugee leaves Lebanon, their record will be removed from the system. If they return, they will no longer be eligible for international assistance. In another major shift, even Europe now supports the return of Syrian refugees. According to LBCI sources, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, has held meetings with Lebanese General Security over a surge in smuggling boats ferrying Syrian refugees from Lebanon to Europe across the Mediterranean. Now, Lebanese authorities say they are determined to close the refugee file once and for all. The final deadline for voluntary returns has been set for December 31, 2025. However, the situation is complicated by a lack of detention space, which limits the ability of authorities to arrest undocumented Syrians who refuse to leave. Despite continued instability in certain parts of Syria and new waves of refugees attempting to cross into Lebanon, the state's position appears firm. The political divide over the refugee issue, which has long been a source of paralysis, has ended. Syrian refugees in Lebanon are now either welcomed guests preparing to leave or violators accountable for their decision to stay.
LBCI
24-07-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Socio-economic impact: Lebanon's post-war collapse
Report by Lea Fayad, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Is the war in Lebanon over? One thing is certain—the country's economy is still paying the price of the last war, which came after five years of economic and social crisis. According to a new United Nations report titled "The Socio-Economic Impact of the 2024 War on Lebanon," the private sector lost 25% of its jobs during the conflict. Even after the ceasefire, 14% of those jobs remain unfilled. Meanwhile, 15% of businesses have shut down permanently, while another 21% are temporarily closed. Key sectors, including agriculture, industry, and tourism, were severely hit. The ripple effects have been devastating: nearly one million Lebanese, approximately 928,000 people, are living in a state of acute food insecurity. The report warns that even with immediate and comprehensive reforms, Lebanon's economy is projected to reach only 8% of its pre-crisis size by 2030. Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Lebanon, Blerta Aliko, said that without genuine political will and serious reforms, the compounded crisis that began in 2019 and worsened during the 2024 war may become inescapable.
LBCI
24-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Disputed borders and denied towers: Israel pushes back on monitoring plan
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Israel has continued efforts to legitimize its hold over five disputed sites along the Lebanese border, releasing a "wide-ranging intelligence report' on Lebanon and the Syrian-Lebanese frontier. The report claims that Hezbollah is strengthening its presence in South Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Israeli border town of Shlomi has seen a spike in military drills and readiness for potential surprise escalations, including scenarios involving infiltration. Along the tense frontier, elite commando units, explosive experts, assault teams, surveillance personnel, and drone squads have been deployed to prevent a repeat of the October 7 incident. In parallel, the head of research at the Alma Research and Education Center revealed that Israel recently turned down a British proposal to fund the installation of more than 29 surveillance towers in Lebanon. According to the center's head, the UK has been increasing efforts to finance the construction of observation posts and monitoring systems for use by the Lebanese Army along the border with Israel. The center argued in its report that such infrastructure could compromise Israel's security and be exploited by Hezbollah. It concluded that surveillance towers would not serve as an adequate substitute for a continued Israeli military presence along the border and within the five contested sites.
