Envoy: Iran Ready To Assist Syrian Refugees In Lebanon

Beirut, Jan 17, IRNA – Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi said here Wednesday Iran is ready for offering humanitarian relief aides to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. According to IRNA Beirut Office, Roknabadi announced Iran's readiness in this respect in his Wednesday meeting with a delegation of Lebanese political party members and national personalities, emphasizing that Iran's offer is aimed at decreasing he pains and sufferings of these refugees. He further reiterated, 'Tehran's stand regarding the ongoing developments in Syria has remained unchanged and we denounce any kind of foreign interference in that country.' Emphasizing that the only practical solution for the Syrian crisis is the diplomatic solution, Roknabadi said, 'The different Syrian political factions and groups should take part in a national dialog and cooperate for restoration of stability to their country and achieving national understanding.' He also stressed that Iran stands side by side with the Lebanese nation and government, adding, 'We know the high value of the selfless endeavors of this nation.' In the meeting the two sides also surveyed the latest bilateral, internal, regional and particularly Syrian developments. Syria's 600,000 refugees face severe winter conditions across the country and the surrounding region. This adds more misery to the increasing food shortage caused by heavy rain followed by a drop in temperatures. Stormy weather sparked widespread flooding, prompting chaos on the roads and a nationwide school closure. The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is already totaling 156,000, according to UN figures, and 200,000 according to the Lebanese government. UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commission on Refugees, said here Wednesday, 'Even with the winter preparation work that has been done in recent months, many refugees in both camp and non-camp situations are facing particularly cold and damp conditions. At the same time, there has been no let-up in the numbers of people fleeing Syria.'/end