High Commissioner’s statement at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty, Paris

M. le Président de la République,

M. le Président du Conseil des ministres,

Permettez-moi de m’exprimer en anglais [Allow me to speak in English].

The disaster in Lebanon has multiple humanitarian consequences. Displacement, as we heard, is one of the most catastrophic. Parts of the country have been depopulated. A fifth of the population has been displaced. And 430,000 people have crossed into Syria — 30 per cent Lebanese, 70 per cent Syrians: people who fled a war and are now fleeing another. I have seen myself a few days ago families at the border carrying what they can on their backs along a road destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.

Of course, the solution is a ceasefire, followed by a political and military agreement that makes it sustainable. There is no alternative. But meanwhile, helping civilians in Lebanon — all of them, including Syrian and Palestinian refugees — is a priority, and I thank the French Government for convening us here to discuss and hopefully act. UNHCR is fully engaged in this effort, side by side with the Lebanese authorities.

But we must not forget the Syrian dimension of this crisis. Allow me to focus on that aspect.

We must not forget that most Syrians — after years of war, divisions, sanctions — already faced extraordinary hardship prior to this crisis. New arrivals — Lebanese and Syrians alike — are mostly hosted by families that are poor and vulnerable. In Syria, the emergency is both at the border and in people’s homes. There is an urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance, but the inter-agency appeal which I helped launch in Damascus on 7 October is only 12 per cent funded.

Both appeals — for Lebanon and for Syria — therefore need support. Let us not be surprised if, failing to stabilize people in both countries, they decide to seek safety elsewhere.

We at UNHCR have dealt with Syrian refugees for 13 years. To ensure that their return, now and in the future, is safe, dignified and sustainable — as I said many times — we must move on two tracks.

First, we continue to work with the Government of Syria — which has kept borders open to all — to also ensure the safety and security of all those arriving. UNHCR is now allowed to monitor returnees at border crossings and wherever they decide to be accommodated. But our capacity is still limited, especially in places of destination. We have access to 114 community centres across the country. We must build up this capacity and that of our partners — indispensable to support, advise and help ensure that those Syrian returnees eligible to benefit from existing amnesties can do so without hindrance, in a transparent and equitable manner, avoiding retaliations, as I discussed recently with the Syrian authorities.

Second, please use the so-called early recovery space made available by various Security Council Resolutions. Support people who have decided to return, and who may wish to stay, and support the activities which UN and other organizations carry out in areas of return. There is no dignity in returns to places without water, electricity, services, housing. And if those returns won’t be sustainable — people will move again.

We are at a crossroads. A further expansion of the conflict carries unimaginable dangers. It will also broaden the humanitarian impact, far beyond the capacity of aid agencies to respond. And it will open the door for population movements difficult to manage.

Yet, we have some opportunities left to address these challenges before it’s too late — and even to resolve some of the long-standing problems affecting the region, including forced displacement.

But we must act, and act now.

Thank you.