“Since September 24th, we have registered the entry of 72 thousand Lebanese and some 197 thousand Syrians who resided in Lebanon,” reported the department. On Wednesday alone, 19,900 refugees entered the country.

The above figures do not include the Lebanese and Syrians who entered through illegal crossings and were taken in by the inhabitants of the Syrian border towns.

Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Ghazi Al-Jalali also ordered his cabinet members to comply with President Bashar al-Assad’s directives, providing everything necessary for Lebanese arriving in the country. “We have prepared all the conditions for a rapid humanitarian response and to ensure the needs of the displaced and monitor their conditions in their places of residence, in coordination with several ministries,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that some procedures were modified to facilitate the entry of all those coming from Lebanon, and pointed out that Damascus is open to any initiative that contributes to providing support to the Lebanese.

The head of the Higher Aid Committee, Minister of Local Administration Louay Kariba, revealed that there are contributions from unions for the sending of aid to Lebanon, in addition to ensuring the supply of food and basic materials.

The Syrian Ministry of Health has instructed all hospitals and medical centers to receive and treat Lebanese people free of charge, and has mobilized ambulances and medical teams to the border.

The Ministry of Education announced that all schools in the country are open to receive Lebanese children who wish to attend classes free of charge.

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