Sec of State John Kerry in Lebanon to show US backing for gov’t amid chaos in Syria

BEIRUT – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is on an unannounced trip to Lebanon to bring Obama administration support to the country’s government as it confronts severe difficulties with an influx of refugees from Syria and a political stalemate at home.

Kerry arrived in Beirut on Wednesday to meet with Lebanese officials and others as they deal with both the fallout from the conflict in Syria and a seemingly intractable dispute over who will become the next Lebanese president. Kerry is expected to announce another $290 million in aid for United Nations agencies working on the refugee issue.

Lebanon, home to 4.5 million people, is struggling to cope with the presence of more than 1 million Syrian and Palestinian refugees in desperate need of housing, education and medical care.

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