(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, JANUARY 9 - The number of people who attempted last year to reach Europe from Lebanon irregularly increased by 176%, according to figures just released by the Beirut office of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. UNHCR spokesperson Lisa Abou Khaled was quoted as saying by French-language Lebanese daily L'Orient-Le Jour that from January to December 2022, a reported 4,334 people tried to flee dire living conditions in Lebanon, which has struggled with financial collapse over the past three years and for the past decade has suffered the effects of the war in neighbouring Syria. In 2021, 1,570 irregular migrants departed from Lebanon, according to data provided by UNHCR. And in 2020, 794 fled by sea.

Last year, 62% of irregular migrants from Lebanon were Syrian, 11% Palestinian and 28% Lebanese. The figure was on the rise compared to the previous years: in 2021 Lebanese migrants were 11% (186 out of 1,570) and in 2020 they were 18% (148 out of 794). The significant increase of irregular migrants from Lebanon and the rising percentage of Lebanese nationals fleeing the country was attributed to worsening social and economic conditions in the country, which has been rocked by the worst financial crisis in its history. According to the UN, more than 80% of the population residing in Lebanon - including Syrian refugees, Palestinians and seasonal workers of other nationalities - live below the poverty line.(ANSAmed).