In statements published by al-Watan newspaper, Salhab explained that the return is completely voluntary and assured that they are working around the clock to restore education, health, electricity and water services.

We have removed 65% of the rubble and we will complete this task in less than a week, while priority has been given to accelerating the construction of four schools,” the governor said.

On the other hand, the return of refugees residing in Lebanon to their localities liberated from the radicals by the Syrian army continues, through the border crossings of Dabousieh and Zamrani, in the provinces of Homs and Damascus.

The Syrian authorities do not give an exact figure of the number of their citizens who returned from Lebanon, but the General Security Department of that neighboring country estimates that there are more than 500,000, while 1.5 million remain in Lebanon.

The official added that hard work is being done to encourage the displaced to return despite the West’s escalation through unilateral coercive measures that were extended to cover the hydrocarbon sector.

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