Lebanon’s President Michel Sleiman said on 24 September that the country is struggling to cope with the massive influx of refugees fleeing Syria’s civil war.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, he said Lebanon faces an “existential crisis” because of the high costs needed to host the refugees. He urged the international community to provide support.

Hours earlier, US President Barack Obama announced that the US will provide $74m in aid. The funds are meant for housing, food, and medical care for the more than a million Syrians living in Lebanon, which now comprise about a fourth of the country’s population.

Syria’s war has led to millions of Syrians fleeing their homes, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Jordan’s Zaatari is the largest refugee camp in the region, harboring more than 100,000 refugees.