GENEVA – The head of the U.N. refugee agency is warning that the spiraling refugee crisis brought on by Syria’s civil war could pose a serious threat to Lebanon’s security and destabilize the entire region unless donors quickly provide the unfunded 70 per cent of the $3.74 billion needed for emergency needs.
Get daily National news
Antonio Guterres says the upwardly revised assessment of needs is based on a new estimate there will be at least 3.6 million Syrian refugees by the end of the year.
READ MORE: UN: Number of world’s displaced over 50 million
- U.S. confirms space weapons launch for the 1st time. Should you be concerned?
- Prince Harry, Meghan Markle change children’s school over ‘security’ fears
- China can now ban citizens from leaving for national or industrial security
- Anthrax outbreak kills more than 50 animals, infects 12 people in Zambia
He said in a statement Thursday that donors have contributed just $1.1 billion so far toward efforts in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, and failure to provide more “could result in dramatic consequences for refugees and the stability of the entire region, including a serious security threat to Lebanon.”
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.