by Salah Takieddine

 BEIRUT, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) — The wave of illegal immigration to the European Union (EU) countries witnessed a remarkable increase during the past few weeks as Lebanese started to follow the steps of the displaced Syrians who decided to take a dangerous adventure that may lead to a better life.

 Lebanese security sources confirmed to Xinhua on condition of anonymity that about 1500 citizens in Tripoli, the largest city in the north, left during the past two months for Turkey, where they would board small ships to transport them to the Greek shores before they start their adventure towards the northern European countries, particularly Germany.

 The sources added that this illegal and dangerous adventure cost last week the lives of a Lebanese family of nine people when the small ship they were on sank before reaching the Greek shores.

 

 Some Lebanese, according to the sources, had tried through human traffickers to get hold of forged Syrian passports so they can be accepted as asylum seekers in Europe, pointing that the number of Lebanese seeking illegal immigration has increased despite the strict measures adopted by the Lebanese coast guards.

 The sources said that the false Syrian passports cost some 1500 U.S. dollars per person while many would tear up their Lebanese passports once they reach the EU countries, adding that because of the success of some, others are encouraged to follow suit.

 A local source in Tripoli told Xinhua that hundreds of the neighborhood’s young people, left during the past weeks to Turkey legally, and others continued their trip illegally to Greece and reached Germany.

 The source who insisted not to be named added there are other families in his neighborhood are preparing to go because of the very bad economic situation and high rate of jobless rates among the youngsters not matter how dangerous their trip could be.

 "Three ships leave the port daily towards Turkey carrying about 1,000 passengers mostly Syrians," Ahmad Tamer, head of the port authority told Xinhua.

 He added "in addition, we have witness a rise in the number of Lebanese passengers and last Saturday 200 Lebanese from Tripoli left the port and we have no idea about their final destination."

 According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, Lebanon hosts more than 1.1 million Syrians who fled their country since the beginning of the uprising against the regime of President Bashar Assad in March 2011.