Raghida Dergham is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute, and a columnist for The National
October 08, 2023
During his address to the UN General Assembly last month, Jordan’s King Abdullah called on the international community to do more to support the Syrian refugees living in his country as well as Lebanon.
Also last month, Lebanese officials criticised the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for issuing residence certificates to Syrian refugees housed in their country.
It is becoming increasingly clear that it is time for the UNHCR and other NGOs operating in host countries for refugees, including Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, to fundamentally reconsider their tasks and conduct and establish a new strategy that respects official positions and popular sentiments within the host countries vis-a-vis the refugee crisis.
Entire villages in Lebanon now have Syrian majorities. This, among other things, has led to popular resentment towards the UNHCR, in particular as it is seen to be delivering aid to refugees rather than to the host countries – even though the UNHCR helps support host communities too.
Jordan says it hosts 1.4 million Syrian refugees and close to two million are believed to be living in Lebanon. However, the Lebanese government does not have an accurate count because the UNHCR has yet to divulge the official figures.
It bears mention that the Lebanese government is partly responsible for the country’s ordeal. It refused to build proper camps, which led to the dispersal of refugees into villages and cities, including Beirut, and the mushrooming of informal camps that are outside the law. Regardless of the chaos and the mismanagement, however, the UNHCR has no right to classify who is a refugee or displaced to Lebanon, nor should it be the party that manages Beirut’s response.
Syrian refugees sit with their belongings on a pickup truck as they prepare to return to Syria from Wadi Hmayyed, on the outskirts of the Lebanese border town of Arsal. All photos: Reuters
Hundreds of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon returned home on Wednesday, the first day of repatriations organised by Beirut, amid rights groups' concerns that the scheme may involve elements of coercion.
Lugging suitcases, power generators, fridges and even chickens, about 700 Syrians who had agreed to cross over gathered from early morning in a desolate north-eastern border zone.
Lebanese authorities said the repatriations, under a revived programme run co-ordinated by the country's General Security agency, are voluntary.
The United Nations says flare-ups in violence and the risk of detention make it still unsafe for large-scale returns.
Lebanon is home to more than 800,000 Syrians registered with the UN refugee agency. At its peak, Lebanon hosted around 1.2 million.
They fled the violence in the aftermath of protests against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in 2011.
In 2018, the General Security agency launched a mechanism through which any Syrian refugee could signal a desire to return home.
That pathway saw about 400,000 Syrians return home but was put on hold with the outbreak of Covid-19.
Outgoing Lebanese President Michel Aoun revived it this month and it resumed on Wednesday.
Controlling the borders is essential, but even this most basic of principles is a victim to political and sectarian polarisation in a fragmented country
Further, government departments must develop a comprehensive strategy to then be executed by the armed forces and the General Directorate of General Security (GDGS) intelligence agency.
While we must view the issue as a humanitarian one, a fresh influx of refugees from Syria suggests there could be some form of co-ordination between Syrian authorities and Lebanese entities such as Hezbollah to facilitate their illegal crossing through the permeable borders. There are murmurs of rampant corruption that includes the enabling of smugglers.
It is also worth asking if the new displacement wave is triggered by economic factors, inadvertently encouraged by some NGOs, given the kind of assistance refugees receive in Lebanon – even as Lebanese citizens themselves suffer from shortages and increasing poverty.
The almost 400-kilometre-long border with Syria is difficult to control, especially as Lebanon’s armed forces are involved in various challenges in different parts of the country. There is neither adequate funding for the technological development of border control nor a political agreement on the demarcation of the border.
The Syrian regime does not appear interested in the refugees’ return and is showing little intent in providing a secure environment for them.
Lebanese authorities have become tired of waiting for officials in the West, particularly in Europe, to act.
Gen Elias Baysari, who heads the GDGS, said in a recent media interview that his organisation has the “right” to “decide on the presence of foreigners in Lebanon”. This is a crucial statement that the UN, its agencies, and European countries and their representatives would do well to note.
Today, there is widespread anger, alarm and suspicion inside Lebanon of the European powers’ intentions. They are being accused of using the humanitarian issue as a pretext to impose the resettlement of Syrians in Lebanon. There are increasingly even calls to close UN offices for overstepping the powers of the state, with some urging the opening of the shores for Syrian refugees to cross into Europe. The continent’s powers, terrified by the influx of refugees, rely on the likes of Lebanon to host them.
What should be done?
Controlling the borders is essential, but even this most basic of principles is a victim to political and sectarian polarisation in a fragmented country.
Hezbollah, for instance, has succeeded in all but dismantling the state bit by bit, and has not expressed any desire to tackle the border issue. This suggests much-required demarcation is unlikely to happen soon.
It is, therefore, worthwhile and necessary to build on the dual approach of both the Jordanian and Lebanese tracks regarding the issue of Syrian refugees, as raised by King Abdullah at the UN.
It is time for Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey to collectively address the UN through diplomatic means. They should send delegations to meet UN officials, including Secretary General Antonio Guterres, pointing to the shortcomings of the UNHCR’s policies and demanding specific and precise measures be taken. These efforts need to be accompanied by smart media campaigns beyond simply airing grievances.
It would be beneficial for the three countries to also address the UN Security Council with carefully crafted draft resolutions, both in humanitarian and political terms. These resolutions should serve as a tool to pressure the Syrian regime into taking serious actions to ensure the safe return of displaced individuals.
The trio must also adopt a unified stance regarding the impact of refugees on their economies.
Ultimately, addressing the crisis requires a global partnership with the host countries to tackle the problem at its roots based on a security situation that allows the safe return of refugees, with shared responsibilities. This should be part of a resolution presented in the Security Council, accompanied by a financial mechanism enabling the relocation of refugees either back to their home country or to a third country.
There needs to be a concerted effort to make the international community act rationally, intelligently and with responsibility. Syria’s neighbours cannot alone bear the burden posed by the refugee crisis. This is also the responsibility of the UN and the EU.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Director: Hansal Mehta
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Teams
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
Fixtures
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Oman
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
The Voice of Hind Rajab
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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Mobile phone packages comparison
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood. Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues. Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity. Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
