BEIRUT, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's General Security Directorate on Wednesday resumed its registration service for Syrian refugees willing to return to their homeland, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.
The directorate resumed the operation of a registration center in Arsal, a town in northern Bekaa Region, after suspending its operations on Oct. 6 of last year due to logistical reasons, NNA reported.
Around 50 Syrian families who wish to return to their villages in Western Qalamoun mountains and Al Qusayr registered their names on Wednesday, it added.
The directorate said it would continue to provide the service at the center three days a week.
Lebanese authorities have repeatedly called on the international community to assist Lebanon in returning Syrian refugees to their homeland as the country suffers from a dire financial crisis and can no longer host many displaced people on its territories.
According to statistics released by the Lebanese government, around two million Syrian refugees are living in Lebanon, a country with a population of more than 5.5 million. The UN Refugee Agency reported that Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer in the world. ■
