Syrian refugees hit million mark in Lebanon : UN

April 04, 2014 00:00:00

TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Syrian refugees wait their turn at a UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) registration centre, one of many across Lebanon, in the northern port city of Tripoli Thursday. — AFP Photo

TRIPOLI, Apr 3 (AP): The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has surpassed 1 million, the U.N. refugee agency said Thursday, calling it a "devastating milestone" for the tiny Arab country with about 4.5 million people of its own.

Also, three years after Syria's conflict started, Lebanon has become the country with the highest per-capita concentration of refugees recorded anywhere in the world in recent history, the UNHCR said.

As a result, Lebanon is struggling to cope with a massive crisis that has become an unprecedented challenge for aid agencies, UNHCR said.

Along with the social and economic strain of the refugees, Syria's sectarian war has also frequently spilled over into Lebanon with deadly clashes between factions supporting opposing sides in the fighting next door.