- Title: Argentinean FM visits refugee camp in Lebanon
- Date: 17th May 2016
- Summary: BEKAA, LEBANON (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER SUSANNA MALCORRA ARRIVING AT INFORMAL REFUGEE SETTLEMENT VARIOUS SYRIAN REFUGEES GREET MALCORRA / CHILDREN IN CAMP VARIOUS MALCORRA WALKING THROUGH SETTLEMENT, TALKING TO WOMAN TENTS IN SETTLEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER SUSANNA MALCORRA SAYING: "We are from very far away. Argentina is very far from Syria, very far from Lebanon, but at the same time we are very close. I don't know if you know but we have more than one million Lebanese in our country and more than one million Syrians in our country, so we felt that it was only right that we come and try and do something to share the burden and the responsibility of the problems that these refugees have." VARIOUS OF TENT WITH SIGN READING (Spanish/English): 'WHITE HELMETS ARGENTINEAN REPUBLIC' MALCORRA CHECKING SICK CHILD (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARGENTINEAN FOREIGN MINISTER SUSANNA MALCORRA, SAYING: "We just hope that the equipment that was brought, the installations that were brought and are going to be left behind, like the topographer and the other equipment will be useful for the refugees in this region. I thank you for being here and we just hope to be helpful." TENTS IN SETTLEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE WHITE HELMETS COMMISSION, ALEJANDRO DANERI, SAYING: "We are in a sanitary unit, which was donated from Argentina to the Lebanese government, among other things. This is a very well-equipped sanitary unit and also we have blankets, tents and a lot of stuff from humanitarian assistance to contribute and relieve the suffering of refugees here in Lebanon." VARIOUS OF REFUGEES GATHERED AROUND MALCORRA VARIOUS OF BOY FLYING KITE VARIOUS BEKAA VALLEY
- Embargoed: 1st June 2016 16:00
- Keywords: Argentina Lebanon refugees Syria Susanna Malcorra
- Location: BEKAA, LEBANON
- City: BEKAA, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014I75G7B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Argentinean Foreign Minister Susanna Malcorra visited a Syrian refugee settlement in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday (May 16).
Malcorra is on a two-day visit to the Middle East nation which bears the heaviest brunt of the refugee crisis triggered by the war in neighbouring Syria.
The Syrian conflict, which has killed at least 250,000, has displaced around 11 million people with more than a million seeking refuge in Lebanon.
Malcorra said her country was ready to help ease the huge strain Lebanon is under and that Argentina had a special reason to join in the international relief effort.
"We are from very far away, Argentina is very far from Syria, very far from Lebanon, but at the same time we are very close. I don't know if you know but we have more than one million Lebanese in our country and more than one million Syrians in our country, so we felt that it was only right that we come and try and do something to share the burden and the responsibility of the problems that these refugees have," Malcorra said.
Malcorra brought medical equipment to the camp as well as paramedics to help Lebanese authorities in setting up health facilities in the settlement.
"We are in a sanitary unit, which was donated from Argentina to the Lebanese government, among other things. This is a very well-equipped sanitary unit and also we have blankets, tents and a lot of stuff from humanitarian assistance to contribute and relieve the suffering of refugees here in Lebanon," said Alejandro Daneri from the Argentinean humanitarian "White Helmets" commission in charge of refugee relief operations.
At a news conference in Beirut on Monday (May 16) Malcorra urged the international community to offer more support to refugees fleeing Syria and said her country was prepared to take in Syrians willing to come to Argentina. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None