The Church in Lebanon Needs to Balance Its Compassion between a Critical Situation at Home and the Safe Return of Syrian Refugees to their Country

By Chaden Hani

On the 17th of October 2017, the Information Office of the Presidency of the Lebanese Republic announced President Michel Aoun’s call for the return of Syrian refugees to the safe areas of Syria, due to Lebanon’s inability to bear the consequences resulting from the Syrian presence in the country. This was in accordance with a statement issued by the Lebanese President during his meeting with the ambassadors of the UN Security Council, the ambassadors of the European Union, the United Nations envoys, and the League of Arab States. He announced the existence of at least two and a half million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, a figure exceeding that registered by the UN Commission referring to one and a half million.

Although Lebanon has been one of the most welcoming countries for Syrian refugees, it has suffered various economic and social implications as a result, as emphasized by the Lebanese President. According to a survey conducted by Labora on the Al-Joumhouriya website, unemployment in Lebanon has reached 60% among Lebanese youths between 23-26 years of age. The Lebanese Ministry of Education issued a decision to launch the academic year 2017-2018 with a segregation of Lebanese and Syrian students for educational and social reasons. Consequently, a large number of Syrian students will no longer be able to continue studying.

Furthermore, Aoun called on international relief organizations not to intimidate Syrian refugees who want to return to their homeland of their own will. He nevertheless firmly rejected the forced return of those who might face severe consequences as a result of political opposition to the Syrian regime, while also declining the proposition of resettlement made by US President Donald Trump. The UN refugee agency, in response to President Aoun, declared that it did not consider the conditions in Syria appropriate for the safe return of refugees at this point in time.

The Syrian affair is met with controversy in the political milieu of both Lebanon and Syria. In Lebanon, Hezbollah officials argue that the issue of Syrian refugees must be discussed with the Syrian regime, a suggestion rejected by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri, who categorically refuses to deal with Syrian authorities with regard to the return of refugees, except through the United Nations and its specialized agencies. As for the Syrian position, although it recognizes the burden on Lebanon resulting from the Syrian exodus, it considers the consequences of calling for the return of its refugees to be equivalent to the call for their deportation, which would result in material and moral harm for both Lebanese and Syrians.

What position should the Church adopt today? Is there a position that can satisfy both Lebanese and Syrian parties?

The Church in Lebanon has played an important pastoral role in providing relief to refugees of diverse faith backgrounds who came to Lebanon from various cities and villages in Syria. This has led many Syrian refugees to attend church, resulting in many coming to faith in Christ, becoming disciples, and beginning to serve among their families. Today, the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland has become possible for some. As the crises in both Syria and Lebanon have intensified, to what extent is the Lebanese Church able to neglect the crisis among its own people and the internal stability of Lebanon as it continues to host its neighbor?

How can the Church in Lebanon assist the return of refugees to their own country, while simultaneously ensuring that refugees continue to grow in their faith? Furthermore, how can the Church assist Syrian refugees in extending the values of God’s Kingdom in their country that has so severely been broken by injustice and evil? The Church in Lebanon must begin to address these questions in order to adopt a sound attitude that serves the interest of their country as well as the interests of their guests, who have indeed blessed the Church in Lebanon through their presence.