BEIRUT, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Tuesday that Syrian authorities are providing all necessary support for Syrian refugees returning to their homeland, the National News Agency reported.
"Syrian authorities have secured houses, infrastructure and schools for Syrian refugees returning to their homeland, according to our information," Aoun was quoted as saying during his meeting with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Aoun called upon the international community to offer help to refugees in their homeland instead of in Lebanon in a bid to encourage them to return to Syria.
The president emphasized the economic, social and security burden created by Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
"We insist on securing a safe return for Syrian refugees to their homeland without waiting for a political solution," he added.
Lebanon is hosting 976,000 registered Syrian refugees, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, while the government estimates the true number of Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million.
A Lebanese official said earlier that 270,000 Lebanese people have lost their jobs after 384,000 Syrian refugees poured into the country's employment market.
