File Photo: Syrian refugees prepare to return to Syria from the Lebanese border town of Arsal, Lebanon June 28, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations (UN) envoy reiterated Wednesday the UN principles of "safe, voluntary, and dignified return" for the Syrian refugees sheltering in Lebanon.
"There is a national consensus, even political consensus among major political parties, (in Lebanon) in favor of return of Syrian refugees back home," UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis told reporters.
Before he met with the press, Kubis had briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Lebanon.
There was a "big discussion" around the issue, including "how to shape relations between Lebanon and Syria" as a broader topic, he said.
With regard to the possibility that the refugees might be pushed back to unsafe locations, Kubis said the UN has been working to ensure the principles of "safe, voluntary, and dignified" return of them, noting that the humanitarian community is also addressing the issue.
Last week, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said he was "very much worried" about his country due to the big burden of Syrian refugees on its economy.
"Lebanon cannot take anymore the negative economic and social repercussions of the presence of a big number of Syrian refugees in the country," Aoun said during his meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen.
According to the Lebanese government, some 1.5 million Syrian refugees have fled into Lebanon since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011.