BEIRUT (Xinhua) – UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has urged the international community to scale up its support for the Lebanese people and the refugees in the country, according to a UN statement.
“I am visiting Lebanon during a very difficult moment. The Lebanese people and refugees are suffering as the political, economic and financial crisis is taking a toll on everyone,” Grandi said at the end of a two-day visit to Lebanon.
During his visit, the UN senior official met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, House Speaker Nabih Berri and other ministers and officials to discuss how to better support the Lebanese people and Syrians in the country.
“I am making an urgent appeal to the international community to do more for refugees and Lebanese host communities. The support being provided to this dramatic situation is not enough,” Grandi said.
Lebanon continues to host the largest number of refugees per capita in the world.
Grandi left Lebanon for Syria to meet with Syrian officials and review the humanitarian situation and response, the statement noted.