Germany stands united with Lebanon, stressed Chancellor Angela Merkel after her meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam. Lebanon has been more seriously affected than any other country by the Syrian refugee crisis.

"I would just like to remind you that a country with a population of four million currently has more than one million registered refugees – and I am not even going to mention the many more that are not registered," said Angela Merkel.

Germany is providing support for refugee camps in a variety of ways – in the form of bilateral aid, and through the European Union and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation in Berlin

The Chancellor said she was happy that the German government, or the Federal Foreign Minister, will host a conference of ministers of foreign affairs on Tuesday, which is to focus on the refugee crisis in Syria and its neighbours. "I hope that the conference will send a strong signal of solidarity," said the Chancellor.

The fact that Prime Minister Salam is attending the conference will make it possible to hear first hand about the situation in Lebanon, to find out what ways he sees out of the crisis, and to hear what he expects from Germany, said Angela Merkel.

Tammam Salam underscored the importance of this conference for his country. "That is why we are very grateful for your interest and your offer to host the conference," he said. Germany has a very special status at international level with regard to stability and security in the region.

Humanitarian assistance from Germany

Relations between Germany and the Lebanon have traditionally been cordial. In Lebanon Germany’s humanitarian assistance to help the country cope with the massive influx of refugees from Syria is held in high regard. Since fighting broke out in the neighbouring country, Lebanon has taken in more than one million Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

Germany is financing the work of the UN and other international organisations working in Lebanon in providing for refugees. For 2012 and 2013 the German government provided about 100 million euros to this end. German involvement in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) fleet, which is securing the Lebanese coast, is very much valued, as is German assistance in establishing a coastal radar system and building Lebanon’s navy.