Mayor of Bsalim Addresses Challenges of Syrian Displacement

“Lebanon Debate”

A Facebook account under the name Teta W NachaTeta recently posted on Facebook addressing George Semaan, the mayor of Bsalim. The post stated, "Mr. George Semaan, mayor of Bsalim, I've lived in Anis Ziadeh Mezher's building for over 40 years without any theft incidents." The author continued, "In the past two years, everything left outside our doors gets stolen, from entrance mops to plants and more."

The post went on to question Semaan about the responsibility for renting apartments to Syrians without official documentation, mentioning that the number of displaced people now exceeds that of local residents. The author requested an inspection of the building, citing assurances from the station that this falls under municipal jurisdiction, emphasizing that the situation is becoming unbearable.

In response to Lebanon Debate's inquiry, Mayor Georges Semaan expressed frustration, stating, "No one seems willing to cooperate; these issues are not solely the municipality's responsibility." He clarified, "Apartment owners are renting to Syrian refugees without informing us, leaving us with limited options." Semaan questioned what the municipality could realistically do, noting that their municipal police force consists of just 10 individuals.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Semaan acknowledged approximately 300 Syrians in similar situations, stressing the strain on both municipal resources and security forces. He lamented, "The station faces significant challenges with only around 12 personnel; we can only pray for their support."

Regarding their efforts, Semaan affirmed, "The municipality is actively working to relocate illegal occupants, which is currently our most feasible action." He concluded by asserting, "Ultimately, the solution lies with the state, not solely with the municipality or the station."

! تستغيث من التعدّيات... ورد حاسم من البلدية"Teta W NachaTeta"

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