Thousands of Syrian Alawites are fleeing violence in northern Syria, crossing into Lebanon, particularly in Akkar and Tripoli. The situation raises concerns over sectarian violence and social tensions in Lebanon, which already hosts about two million Syrian refugees. Local officials stress the need for regulatory measures to manage the influx of displaced people.
A recent influx of thousands of Syrian Alawites crossing into Lebanon is driven by escalating violence in northern Syria. Reports indicate that these individuals are fleeing intensified clashes between interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s regime and loyalists of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, resulting in significant civilian casualties in the region. Witnesses have stated that many targeted are civilians, not just those affiliated with the previous regime.
The coastal regions of Syria, particularly Latakia and Tartus, predominantly house Alawites, creating fears of growing sectarian violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported over 1,000 fatalities, with more than 700 being Alawites. Many refugees have sought shelter in Akkar and Tripoli, regions with a history of sectarian tension, raising concerns among Lebanese officials about social unrest.
Lebanon’s Akkar region is experiencing a significant surge in displaced individuals, with reports mentioning thousands residing in Alawite villages and in the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood of Tripoli. Local MP Sajih Attieh indicated that on some days up to 10,000 people are crossing illegally into Lebanon due to the absence of official border control, exacerbated by the aftermath of recent military actions disrupting legal crossings.
The Lebanon-Syria border remains porous, complicating Lebanon’s humanitarian efforts and further straining its resources, as two million Syrian refugees already reside there since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Attieh emphasized the need for regulatory measures to manage the new influx of displaced persons to avert repeating past mistakes and to systematically count incoming refugees, as failure to do so could yield an additional million refugees.
The escalating violence in Syria is forcing a wave of Alawites to seek refuge in Lebanon, particularly in the Akkar and Tripoli regions. Amid fears of sectarian violence and social tensions, local authorities express the importance of managing the influx of displaced individuals. The crisis reflects ongoing humanitarian and political challenges for Lebanon, already hosting two million Syrian refugees since 2011, necessitating critical governmental action.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
