Lebanon is struggling to cope with the numbers of refugees from Syria's civil war and the crisis will have consequences far beyond its borders, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told the UN General Assembly.
He called for a road map to a sustainable solution for the Syrian crisis before “its repercussions spiral out of control”.
“The negative repercussions of the Syrian displacement are deepening Lebanon’s crises, but Lebanon will not be the only victim,” Mr Mikati said at the 78th annual session of the General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
“The international community's response to this tragedy remains timid, falling short of an effective and sustainable solution.”
Lebanon hosts about 805,000 registered Syrian refugees, but the actual number living in the country is believed to be higher since it stopped registering new arrivals in 2015.
Mr Mikati said “Lebanon's very existence” was threatened by “the burden of successive waves of displacement”.
He attributed Lebanon's economic crisis, which erupted in 2019 after decades of corruption and mismanagement, to “frequent conflicts within its borders and with neighbouring countries, as well as wars of aggression”.
This culminated in a “prolonged occupation of part of its territories and two protracted refugee and displacement crises”, he said, referring to the past spells of Syrian and Israeli control over Lebanese territory, as well as the influx of Palestinian refugees following the creation of Israel in 1948.
Mr Mikati also addressed Lebanon's failure to elect a president for almost a year, which he said had led to “the exacerbation of the economic and financial crisis and the failure to launch the reforms and financial recovery plans on which the Lebanese depend to save the country”.
Lebanon has been without a president for 10 months and Mr Mikati's government has been functioning in a caretaker capacity since the general election in May last year.
The country has been unable to access international financial support because its politicians were unable to enact the reforms needed even before former president Michel Aoun's term expired at the end of October last year.
Mr Mikati expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Group of Five – France, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the US – and the “French initiative” to expedite the election of a president by parliament.
He also denounced Israel's “continued occupation of parts of our land in the south and its continuing aggression and violation of the Lebanese sovereignty”.
Tensions have escalated in recent months along the southern border with Israel, where the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), a peacekeeping contingent, is deployed.
Mr Mikati thanked all the countries contributing troops to Unifil, whose mandate, initiated in 1978, was renewed in August.
Focus on the presidency
The UN General Assembly has seen a series of meetings and interviews concerning the Lebanese presidential election.
Before leaving for New York, Mr Mikati told the French newspaper Le Figaro that “it would not be logical, or even reasonable, to elect a president who would antagonise Hezbollah”, Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Shiite militia and political group.
The continuing presidential impasse stems from deep divisions between supporters of Hezbollah and its rivals, including the Christian-led Lebanese Forces, the largest party in parliament.
Mr Mikati kicked off his visit to New York on Monday with a meeting with Victoria Nuland, the US undersecretary of state for political affairs.
Ms Nuland said the US “supports any Lebanese-Lebanese dialogue” that could result in the election of a new president.
Representatives of the Group of Five held a meeting in New York on Tuesday to discuss Lebanon's presidential vacuum, amid reported divisions regarding the most suitable approach. The group did not issue a statement after the meeting.
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim said during his speech to the General Assembly that it was “regrettable that the suffering of the Lebanese people continues due to political calculations”.
He said “the danger now threatens the institutions of the state in Lebanon” and stressed “the need to find a solution to the presidential vacancy”.
France's special envoy to Lebanon, former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, visited the country last week for talks with the key players. He is scheduled to return in October.
A Qatari delegation is also expected to visit next month to discuss the issue of the presidency.
The five pillars of Islam
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Zayed Sustainability Prize
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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