BEIRUT, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The cost of hosting Syrian refugees in Lebanon is around 1.5 billion U.S. dollars yearly, said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank vice president for Middle East and North Africa, on Wednesday.
"Donors must pay a large share of this cost as Lebanon cannot absorb it alone," Belhaj said during his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to discuss upcoming World Bank projects in Lebanon.
Belhaj said that the World Bank conducted several studies to assess the economic and social cost of Syrian refugees' presence in Lebanon.
He added that the final assessment will be presented to donors to inform them about the refugees' burden on the budget as well as its economic and social impact on the country.
"We aim to help Lebanon amid the difficult times," he said.
Lebanon is in the grip of an economic crisis described by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern history. Lebanon's situation is further exacerbated by the hosting of a large number of Syrian refugees, which poses great pressure on the country's infrastructure.
Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with the government estimating around 2 million Syrian refugees. ■
