Lebanon’s Crisis Deepens With EU Refugee Deal

Lebanon continues to grapple with a severe economic crisis that has persisted since 2019, as analysts and rights groups raise concerns about large EU grants possibly being more focused on managing refugees than aiding the country’s economic recovery.

The Lebanese pound has plummeted to less than 10% of its pre-crisis value, and savings have evaporated as banks freeze withdrawals. The economic turmoil has pushed around 80% of the population below the poverty line, with 36% living on less than $2.15 a day.

A recent €1 billion ($1.06 billion) deal with the European Union has sparked controversy. While some hoped the funds would alleviate the economic strain, critics argue that most of the aid is designated to support Syrian refugees in Lebanon, aiming to deter them from seeking asylum in Europe. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that nearly three-quarters of the package is intended for the welfare of host communities and refugees.

Lebanon hosts millions of Syrian refugees who fled their country’s ongoing conflict. Amid the economic crisis, hostility towards these refugees has increased, fueled by public campaigns and government rhetoric. The EU deal has been criticized for potentially rewarding Lebanon’s financial mismanagement and poor treatment of the Syrian community.

Human rights groups have condemned Lebanon’s “voluntary return” program, which has seen over 300 Syrians returned to Syria despite ongoing violence there. In 2023 alone, 13,000 Syrians were forcibly deported, often facing violence. Human Rights Watch documented cases of Syrians being deported after attempting to flee Lebanon by sea, only to be sent back by Lebanese armed forces.

Karim Emile Bitar, a professor at Saint Joseph’s University in Beirut, highlighted the issue of corruption, stating, “The biggest problem is the total absence of accountability.” Despite the influx of aid, Lebanon’s poorest citizens see little benefit. The country’s recent budget, aimed at reducing its deficit, has increased taxes on basic goods, exacerbating the hardships faced by the vulnerable.

International financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have pushed for reforms in Lebanon to improve transparency and accountability. However, the Lebanese political elite has resisted, fearing that reforms might expose corruption. Instead, they seem to rely on the international community’s reluctance to let Lebanon collapse entirely, especially given its strategic role in managing refugee flows.

Since 2011, the EU has provided Lebanon with over €3 billion ($3.3 billion), much of it intended to help Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese citizens. Despite this, analysts are skeptical about the impact of the latest EU package, seeing it as another instance of politics overshadowing genuine economic recovery efforts.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has been working with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to address migration issues, as economic conditions push more people to risk dangerous sea crossings to Europe. Von der Leyen, facing criticism from rights groups, has prioritized migration control during her tenure, securing deals with North African countries despite allegations of human rights abuses.

“This is just the latest in a series of bad migration deals with Turkey, Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia,” said Adriana Tidona, a migration researcher at Amnesty International. “Europe is risking becoming complicit in very serious human rights violations.”