Migration, Refugees and Illegal Routes in Times of Health Crisis: The Case of the Lebanon-Syria Border

Abstract

Lebanon’s border management in times of conflict, and particularly throughout the Syrian crisis has been subject to multiple criticisms across policymakers, academics and the international community alike. Lebanon’s post-hoc approach to tackling its border management and ‘sensitive’ matters of national security, coupled with the fact that it has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention have proven to be fundamental obstacles when it comes to the country’s maintenance of human rights standards in the areas of its treatment of various refugee populations within its borders. They have also proven to be fundamental obstacles to its management of illegal routes and illegal movement amid an escalating pandemic. In times of COVID-19, Lebanon’s lack of preparedness, its lack of coordination between its governmental institutions could mean that their border policy will once again serve as a means to hurt both sides.