UN chief holds talks with Lebanese officials, visits peacekeepers

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived yesterday in Lebanon on a two-day visit, inspected the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and held talks with Lebanese officials.The UN official said the increase in the number of Syrian refugees has added to the economic and social problems in Lebanon.“We are here to find solutions which can help Lebanon face this crisis,” Ban said during a joint press conference with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Tamam Salam.Lebanon currently hosts more 1.2mn Syrian refugees, a huge number for a country whose population is 4mn.“The international community is ready and committed to help Lebanon,” the UN chief said adding that “an increase of refugees in Lebanon will create a great burden on the country.”The meeting between Salam and Ban was also attended by World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim and Islamic Development Bank President Ahmed Mohamed Ali al-Madani.The World Bank chief revealed he had given $100mn to Lebanon’s education sector in recognition of its education of Syrian refugees.The UN chief earlier visited the UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon and praised peacekeepers’ role in keeping the situation calm on the Lebanese-Israeli border.“South Lebanon has seen one of the quietest periods in nearly four decades since the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution 1701” which ended a month-long war between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement and Israel in 2006.“Prevalence of a stable security environment in south Lebanon, continued commitment of the parties to the cessation of hostilities, increasing ability of the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure security of the country - these are the key elements for the successful implementation of the (UNIFIL) mandate,” said the UN chief.Ban is to visit informal Syrian refugee camps in eastern Lebanon and also a Palestinian camp.