More than 100,000 flee Lebanon for Syria
More than 100,000 people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon over the past five days to escape Israeli attacks, Syrian authorities say.
Official data shows that at least 24,000 Lebanese entered Syria through four crossing points since Thursday, when Israeli strikes to avenge the abduction of two soldiers by Hezbollah fighters intensified.
At least 27,000 Arabs, mostly Gulf tourists, also left, together with more than 6,500 foreigners and 19,000 Syrians.
Syrian border posts registered another 28,000 people leaving Lebanon, but their nationalities were not yet recorded.
Syria remains Lebanon's only outlet to the world since Israel blockaded Lebanese ports and destroyed the country's transport infrastructure.
The country is sending non-military supplies to Lebanon to help it cope with the attacks, the head of the council overseeing bilateral ties says.
Higher Syrian-Lebanese Council secretary general Nasri al-Khoury says the Syrian authorities have also waived airport and port fees for aid bound to Lebanon.
"Aid from Syria, especially medical, has already arrived in Lebanon and a cargo from Kuwait at Damascus airport is on its way," he said.
Mr Khoury says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has "given his instructions to open Syria's ports, airports and roads to help Lebanon".
He says more power is flowing through a joint electricity grid to help Lebanon compensate for capacity destroyed by Israeli air strikes.
- AFP/Reuters
Original
Official data shows that at least 24,000 Lebanese entered Syria through four crossing points since Thursday, when Israeli strikes to avenge the abduction of two soldiers by Hezbollah fighters intensified.
At least 27,000 Arabs, mostly Gulf tourists, also left, together with more than 6,500 foreigners and 19,000 Syrians.
Syrian border posts registered another 28,000 people leaving Lebanon, but their nationalities were not yet recorded.
Syria remains Lebanon's only outlet to the world since Israel blockaded Lebanese ports and destroyed the country's transport infrastructure.
The country is sending non-military supplies to Lebanon to help it cope with the attacks, the head of the council overseeing bilateral ties says.
Higher Syrian-Lebanese Council secretary general Nasri al-Khoury says the Syrian authorities have also waived airport and port fees for aid bound to Lebanon.
"Aid from Syria, especially medical, has already arrived in Lebanon and a cargo from Kuwait at Damascus airport is on its way," he said.
Mr Khoury says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has "given his instructions to open Syria's ports, airports and roads to help Lebanon".
He says more power is flowing through a joint electricity grid to help Lebanon compensate for capacity destroyed by Israeli air strikes.
- AFP/Reuters
Original
posted by enemycombatant at 11:15 AM
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