British PM meets Syrian refugees in Lebanon

On unannounced visit, David Cameron holds talks with Lebanese PM, unveils extra $154.5 million aid package for refugees

By AP, AFP and ToI Staff 14 September 2015, 9:23 am

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Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (L) meets Syrian refugee families at a tented settlement camp in the Bekaa Valley on the Lebanese-Syrian border on September 14, 2015. (AFP PHOTO/POOL/STEFAN ROUSSEAU)

BEIRUT — British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Beirut early Monday, where he met with his Lebanese counterpart Tammam Salam and Syrian refugees.

Lebanese government officials said Cameron was visiting a Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley.

Cameron, whose visit was not previously announced, arrived as tens of thousands of Syrian refugees are flocking to Europe to escape their war-ravaged home country.

“I wanted to come here to see for myself and to hear for myself stories of refugees and what they need,” Cameron said during his visit to the camp, Sky News reported.

The British government said Monday morning that Cameron was visiting Lebanon “to see first hand how UK aid is helping the most vulnerable people who have been driven from their homes in Syria.” According to the statement, Cameron “will outline the details of the extra £100 million [$154.5 million] package to help Syrian refugees, including £40 million [$61.8 million] to be used in the region surrounding Syria.”

The prime minister later posted an image of Twitter of himself at an unnamed camp, meeting with Syrian refugees. Cameron said he had been “hearing some heartbreaking stories.”

I'm at a refugee camp in Lebanon, hearing some heartbreaking stories. British aid is doing so much to help. pic.twitter.com/dqpCfDgVKM

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 14, 2015

The PM is visiting Lebanon today to see how #UKaid is helping vulnerable refugees from #Syria http://t.co/hWpJtFGHJF @ukinlebanon

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 14, 2015

Cameron said earlier this month that Britain will take in up to 20,000 refugees over the next five years. Thousands took part in a protest rally in London on Saturday, with demonstrators calling on the government to accept more refugees.

Lebanon hosts more than 1.1 million Syrian refugees — equivalent to a quarter of the country’s entire population.

Syria’s war began in March 2011 and has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced some 4 million.