ARTICLE | JANUARY 4, 2013 - 12:02PM | BY ELENA RALLI

Lebanon has decided to keep its border with Syria open to refugees but will seek additional help from other Arab states and the international community. With the number of refugees reaching 125,000 according to UN figures and 200,000 according to government estimates, the Free Patriotic Movement has called on the Lebanese government to close the border however, their proposal was rejected.

According to a statement released today: "The government has decided to call for urgent meetings of the Arab League and international organizations so we can explain the situation of the refugees." Ministers also agreed to "appeal to donor states to honour their aid pledges to Lebanon and to launch a diplomatic campaign both in the Arab world and internationally to persuade Arab and friendly government to share the financial and logistical burden with Lebanon."

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faur informed reporters that the debate for the closing of the border was very heated. However, in the end most ministers decided to leave the borders open mostly for humanitarian reasons since Syrian refugees’ families are in great need of help.

In December 2012, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) published an update on the number of Syrian refugees and according to the statistics, more than half-a-million Syrians have fled their home country and h....

Moreover, last Wednesday, the United Nations human rights office announced that thedeath toll in Syria since the start of the civil war back in March ....

Source