Syrian presence in Lebanon is so pervasive it may well be impossible to manage the situation [Reuters]
Imagine 12 million French in the UK today. The Lebanese government has
assured international agencies that it will still permit and facilitate
humanitarian cases, but the step is a telling one.
This is partially driven by the fact that Syrians are culturally and
linguistically akin, and some sectors of the Lebanese economy, e.g.
construction, remain highly dependent on Syrian workers. How this will
square with the new visa rules is unknown
It would be better if the Lebanese had the magnamity, or much more
importantly, the capacity, to continue simply receiving all Syrians, but
they are barely running their own country.
Lebanon
has just done the apparently unthinkable and placed visa control on the
entry of Syrians into the country. Before, the situation was
effectively a free flow that had resulted in Syrians, mostly refugees,
amounting today to 20 percent of the population on Lebanese soil.
has just done the apparently unthinkable and placed visa control on the
entry of Syrians into the country. Before, the situation was
effectively a free flow that had resulted in Syrians, mostly refugees,
amounting today to 20 percent of the population on Lebanese soil.
Imagine 12 million French in the UK today. The Lebanese government has
assured international agencies that it will still permit and facilitate
humanitarian cases, but the step is a telling one.
The
real story behind this is the annihilation of borders from Baghdad to
Beirut. ISIL is one stark and ugly manifestation of that reality but so
are the refugees, a tragic event that has also affected Turkey and
Jordan. This zone that once facilitated trade is now closer to scenes
from Road Warrior - or the sad march of the displaced.
real story behind this is the annihilation of borders from Baghdad to
Beirut. ISIL is one stark and ugly manifestation of that reality but so
are the refugees, a tragic event that has also affected Turkey and
Jordan. This zone that once facilitated trade is now closer to scenes
from Road Warrior - or the sad march of the displaced.
The disintegration of Sykes Picot
has blurred nation-states as cross border allegiances fight it out on a
series of fronts and through a myriad of forces from Jubhat al-Nusra,
Shia militias, Peshmergas, to the Lebanese Armed forces to the now
infamous ISIL.
has blurred nation-states as cross border allegiances fight it out on a
series of fronts and through a myriad of forces from Jubhat al-Nusra,
Shia militias, Peshmergas, to the Lebanese Armed forces to the now
infamous ISIL.
Border effects
Borders
don't seem to mean much in this Middle East, if they ever did. The
refugees are the terrible consequence and victims of these conflicts
that plague this area.
don't seem to mean much in this Middle East, if they ever did. The
refugees are the terrible consequence and victims of these conflicts
that plague this area.
The
best response to them is not visas but a proper joint response by the
Lebanese government assisted by international insititutions. The reality
however is that the former is incapable, and the latter insufficiently
funded to deal with such a massive influx. As a result, many refugees
are living in terrible conditions.
best response to them is not visas but a proper joint response by the
Lebanese government assisted by international insititutions. The reality
however is that the former is incapable, and the latter insufficiently
funded to deal with such a massive influx. As a result, many refugees
are living in terrible conditions.
| Lebanon restricts entry for Syrians |
The
other harsh reality is that the Lebanese government has said that this
will not affect Syrian "visitors" to Lebanon. There are six classes of
visitors in the new system and the Syrian middle class and rich are
unlikley to be affected.
other harsh reality is that the Lebanese government has said that this
will not affect Syrian "visitors" to Lebanon. There are six classes of
visitors in the new system and the Syrian middle class and rich are
unlikley to be affected.
Walid
Jumblatt stated that his country should differentiate between "refugees
who are fleeing death and destruction in Syria after they lost their
homes," and those who intend to be politically active, but the reality is that the poorest will be most affected.
Jumblatt stated that his country should differentiate between "refugees
who are fleeing death and destruction in Syria after they lost their
homes," and those who intend to be politically active, but the reality is that the poorest will be most affected.
Indeed,
it's a large question mark whether Lebanon has the capacity to even
implement the measure it has just taken. The Syrian presence in Lebanon
is so pervasive it may well be impossible to manage the situation,
except to manage some future inflow.
it's a large question mark whether Lebanon has the capacity to even
implement the measure it has just taken. The Syrian presence in Lebanon
is so pervasive it may well be impossible to manage the situation,
except to manage some future inflow.
Furthermore, the idea of Lebanon, a country barely treading water, being able to manage such a problem is unrealistic.
Efforts of significance
Only
a regional and international effort of significance can manage such a
scale, and regional powers are busy carving their fiefdoms and creating
the very problem rather than solving it.
a regional and international effort of significance can manage such a
scale, and regional powers are busy carving their fiefdoms and creating
the very problem rather than solving it.
The
plight of the refugees is key but it is also important to perceive this
event from the perspective of the host country; a small nation with
very poor governance and infrastructure in the midst of regional
turmoil. In a way, this is Lebanon's very small response to the erosion
of Sykes Picot.
plight of the refugees is key but it is also important to perceive this
event from the perspective of the host country; a small nation with
very poor governance and infrastructure in the midst of regional
turmoil. In a way, this is Lebanon's very small response to the erosion
of Sykes Picot.
Syrians
are indeed everywhere in Lebanon. In Beirut, and in every village and
town one visits. Flights from Beirut to Europe are one-third to half
full of Syrians. Indeed, given this massive presence and Lebanon's
already poor infrastructure and socio-economic state, it is an
achievement that the Syrian crisis has not led to further deterioration
in the country.
are indeed everywhere in Lebanon. In Beirut, and in every village and
town one visits. Flights from Beirut to Europe are one-third to half
full of Syrians. Indeed, given this massive presence and Lebanon's
already poor infrastructure and socio-economic state, it is an
achievement that the Syrian crisis has not led to further deterioration
in the country.
The
relations in Lebanon between the two peoples, despite some racism and
ugly incidents, could have been far worse. Until now, Lebanese hosting
of the refugees is characterised by neither generosity nor enmity, but
by a passive acceptance of fate.
relations in Lebanon between the two peoples, despite some racism and
ugly incidents, could have been far worse. Until now, Lebanese hosting
of the refugees is characterised by neither generosity nor enmity, but
by a passive acceptance of fate.
This is partially driven by the fact that Syrians are culturally and
linguistically akin, and some sectors of the Lebanese economy, e.g.
construction, remain highly dependent on Syrian workers. How this will
square with the new visa rules is unknown
More
importantly, this step can be seen as part of a series of recent
indirect actions that attempt to strengthen the Lebanese state, or at
least make the pretense of doing so. Minister of Health Abu Faour has
been on an intense and mediatic campaign to clean up the food industry
in Lebanon, cracking down restaurants, slaughterhouses, and airport
storage sites.
importantly, this step can be seen as part of a series of recent
indirect actions that attempt to strengthen the Lebanese state, or at
least make the pretense of doing so. Minister of Health Abu Faour has
been on an intense and mediatic campaign to clean up the food industry
in Lebanon, cracking down restaurants, slaughterhouses, and airport
storage sites.
Despite
complaints, this clean up, if it lasts, is a welcome step for Lebanese;
it is national, potentially affects everyone positively, and is an act
of government.
complaints, this clean up, if it lasts, is a welcome step for Lebanese;
it is national, potentially affects everyone positively, and is an act
of government.
Taking responsibility
Second,
in an echo of the Nahr el-Bared campaign, the Lebanese army is taking
responsibility in the Northern Bekaa and Hermel areas against the
radical groups who are effectively fighting the Syrian war on Lebanese
soil. Pride in the Lebanese army is rising. There are also rumours that
the Lebanese government will also take on the murderous Indie-500
speeders on Lebanse highways in the spring.
in an echo of the Nahr el-Bared campaign, the Lebanese army is taking
responsibility in the Northern Bekaa and Hermel areas against the
radical groups who are effectively fighting the Syrian war on Lebanese
soil. Pride in the Lebanese army is rising. There are also rumours that
the Lebanese government will also take on the murderous Indie-500
speeders on Lebanse highways in the spring.
If
this does occur in addition to bold step of visas for Syrians, a move
that would have been unheard of when Lebanon was effectively a vassal
state of Damascus, then indeed Lebanon could see the bare beginnings of
emerging out of chaos through these small attempts.
this does occur in addition to bold step of visas for Syrians, a move
that would have been unheard of when Lebanon was effectively a vassal
state of Damascus, then indeed Lebanon could see the bare beginnings of
emerging out of chaos through these small attempts.
The
political realities in Lebanon are of course more complicated and
illusory than this. Many only see in all of the above feeble attempts to
deflect from the reality of a total political vaccuum.
political realities in Lebanon are of course more complicated and
illusory than this. Many only see in all of the above feeble attempts to
deflect from the reality of a total political vaccuum.
Indeed,
the Lebanese visa step is obviously not humanitarian, it is a
self-interested attempt to stem the tide, put a thumb in the dyke, and
avoid the emergent chaos in the Middle East.
the Lebanese visa step is obviously not humanitarian, it is a
self-interested attempt to stem the tide, put a thumb in the dyke, and
avoid the emergent chaos in the Middle East.
It would be better if the Lebanese had the magnamity, or much more
importantly, the capacity, to continue simply receiving all Syrians, but
they are barely running their own country.
Compassion
requires an orderly method and capacities in order to be effectively
pursued, i.e. the Lebanese need a functioning state of their own to
handle such a crisis properly.
requires an orderly method and capacities in order to be effectively
pursued, i.e. the Lebanese need a functioning state of their own to
handle such a crisis properly.
Escaping war
Indeed,
Lebanon has mostly escaped the wars next door not out of wisdom or
discipline, or any energetic international diplomacy, but because the
memories of that conflict are still vivid in the minds of Lebanese
adults. No one will go to war because they remember what war costs, and
because they know how little they derived from the devastation.
Lebanon has mostly escaped the wars next door not out of wisdom or
discipline, or any energetic international diplomacy, but because the
memories of that conflict are still vivid in the minds of Lebanese
adults. No one will go to war because they remember what war costs, and
because they know how little they derived from the devastation.
The
result of 15 years of fighting was that the state was further weakened
in favour of sectarianism, cronyism and corruption, while the Lebanese
kept on doing what they do best, make money and enjoy life, living for
today and certainly not tomorrow. Meanwhile, social and environmental
erosion make the country less and less livable by the day.
result of 15 years of fighting was that the state was further weakened
in favour of sectarianism, cronyism and corruption, while the Lebanese
kept on doing what they do best, make money and enjoy life, living for
today and certainly not tomorrow. Meanwhile, social and environmental
erosion make the country less and less livable by the day.
The
recent steps however, triggered by political challenges and health
risks, signal some early and feeble attempts at a return of the state,
or at the very least preserving the semblance of the old order, the
shadow of a nation-state, amidst the dark fluidity and chaos surging
from there to Kurdistan.
recent steps however, triggered by political challenges and health
risks, signal some early and feeble attempts at a return of the state,
or at the very least preserving the semblance of the old order, the
shadow of a nation-state, amidst the dark fluidity and chaos surging
from there to Kurdistan.
It
took the Lebanese 40 years and external pressures to begin to think
about getting their house in order, if that is indeed what is happening
today.
took the Lebanese 40 years and external pressures to begin to think
about getting their house in order, if that is indeed what is happening
today.
Hopefully, it won't take their neighbours that long to start to address the necessary basics of life.
John
Bell is Director of the Middle East Programme at the Toledo
International Centre for Peace in Madrid. He is a former UN and Canadian
diplomat, and served as Political Adviser to the Personal
Representative of the UN Secretary-General for southern Lebanon and
adviser to the Canadian government.
Bell is Director of the Middle East Programme at the Toledo
International Centre for Peace in Madrid. He is a former UN and Canadian
diplomat, and served as Political Adviser to the Personal
Representative of the UN Secretary-General for southern Lebanon and
adviser to the Canadian government.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.
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Lebanon has just done the unthinkable - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
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