Lebanon's crisis and refugee situation: unraveling the misleading narratives amidst the EU resolution

The latest EU JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Lebanon has been gravely misinformed and manipulated by certain politicians and the media, driven by nationalism, laziness, or corrupt journalism. Particularly, right-wing politicians and media outlets have deliberately distorted the narrative of the EU statement to divert attention from the crucial issues addressed in the motion.

Instead of honestly addressing the comprehensive 19 key points presented in the report, these parties have strategically fixated on a single issue, "The Refugees." This deliberate misinterpretation aims to downplay and overshadow the broader concerns raised in the statement, which include the dire political, economic, social, financial, and health crises afflicting Lebanon.

Out of the 19 key points, merely 2 points, amounting to a mere 5% of the motion, focused on the refugee crisis. These points addressed the voluntary return of Syrian refugees and the observed consequences of their deportation.

Mentions of themes in the Motion

In contrast, the remaining 16 key points provide a detailed account of the disastrous economic situation and its devastating impact on the people. This includes addressing the political, economic, social, financial, and health crises, the institutional breakdown, and the alarming increase in electricity, gas, and water prices. The statement also highlights significant events following the tragic August 4 disaster, such as the assassinations of Joseph Skaff and Lokman Slim, and the obstruction of Judge Bitar's work, including lawsuits against him and the Hezbollah attack on Ain El Remmene.

The motion urged EU member states to assist families of the Beirut port blast victims in pursuing justice through foreign national courts and prosecuting politicians accused of atrocities under universal jurisdiction. Additionally, it called for the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission by the UN Human Rights Council to determine the facts and circumstances of the Beirut explosion, establish culpability, and promote justice and restitution for the victims.

Moreover, the motion also highlighted the sequence of events leading to the postponement of municipal elections, with Lebanon's caretaker Interior Minister and the UN Special Coordinator in favor of holding elections, while Hezbollah, Amal, Free Patriotic Movement, and their allies decided to postpone them due to funding shortages.

The motion also shed light on the involvement of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh in embezzlement and participation in a criminal association. An international arrest warrant was issued by France, Germany, and Luxembourg in May 2023, and authorities seized assets worth EUR 120 million, yet Salameh denies any wrongdoing and refuses to resign.

Furthermore, the motion referred to the investigation against Prime Minister Najib Makati on money laundering charges related to the Panama Papers. It also addressed corruption in EU-funded projects, specifically in waste management.

In addition, the motion clearly exposed the unconstitutional tactics employed by Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) to block the presidential elections. It holds politicians across the ruling class and illegally armed parties accountable for obstructing the democratic and constitutional process, calling for their disarmament and urging Lebanon's political elite to take responsibility for the current dire situation in the country.

Lastly, the motion unequivocally condemned the killing of an Irish UNIFIL soldier by Hezbollah members and demanded accountability for the incident.

This deflection and blaming of refugees has severe implications. This trend was initiated by the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and was closely monitored by Influeanswers in July 2022, when the FPM launched a campaign called "أرضنا مش للنازح السوري" (Our land is not for Syrian refugees).

Subsequently, MPs and media outlets consistently focused on this topic, accompanied by publicity stunts, such as the one involving the governor of Baalbek's infamous interview with a refugee who had multiple wives and children.

This type of narrative can only lead to increased hatred towards the 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, inevitably escalating tensions. It's only a matter of time before this heightened tension explodes, resulting in potential unrest and conflict. Such actions perpetuate a dangerous and divisive narrative, further marginalizing vulnerable communities and hindering the efforts to find sustainable solutions to the refugee crisis in Lebanon.