{"id":285223,"date":"2020-12-01T14:48:35","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T17:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=285223"},"modified":"2020-12-02T20:02:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T23:02:24","slug":"new-emigration-wave-starting-in-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/new-emigration-wave-starting-in-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"New emigration wave starting in Lebanon"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Lebanon is starting to experience a new emigration wave, according to Brazilian researcher and author Roberto Khatlab, who directs the Latin American Studies and Culture Center (CECAL) of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon. Khatlab addressed the subject during a webinar hosted by the Arab House of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC) on Monday (30).<\/p>\n

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Khatlab talked about the history of immigration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the virtual event, immigration scholars analyzed a survey carried out by Ibope Intelig\u00eancia and H2R Pesquisas Avan\u00e7adas, which pointed out that Brazil has around 12 million Arabs and descendants, accounting for 6% of the country\u2019s population. Khatlab talked about the reasons for immigration and the current situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we are seeing a new emigration wave from Lebanon,\u201d Khatlab said. Lebanon has experienced a long period of economic and political instability. \u201cSince 2018 the situation hadn\u2019t been well, then it got worse in 2019, and now since the pandemic we have seen a great wave of emigration,\u201d he said. Khatlab sees a brain drain, a flight of youth and professionals that could contribute for the country\u2019s renovation.<\/p>\n

Khatlab pointed out that conflicts and wars, as wells as epidemies and agreements between governments, have driven the Arab immigration to Brazil throughout history. But he believes that immigrants established in other countries should help their birth country, including by making the younger generations remain in the country.<\/p>\n

Khatlab made a journey through history and pointed out that Dom Pedro II, who penned agreements between the Empire of Brazil and the Ottoman Empire fostering the Arab immigration to Brazil. The agreement made it easier for immigrants to come into Brazil. The researcher mentioned other treaties, such as the one during the French mandate in Lebanon and Syria and the Republic in Brazil that encouraged immigration.<\/p>\n

Arab House and immigration<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Alessandra Frisso showed figures from the survey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The virtual event about immigration was the first one hosted by the Arab House, which started operating with online activities. Khatlab said he believes the Arab House will be a space for spreading the information collected during the survey. ABCC president Rubens Hannun opened the event by presenting the Arab House and talked about the various materials it will bring together, from exhibitions to libraries, movies, webinars, as wells as training activities, among others.<\/p>\n

The Arab House aims at becoming a space for debating and reflecting on Arab immigration in Brazil. The survey commissioned by the ABCC showed a series of information, which H2R Pesquisas Avan\u00e7adas director Alessandra Frisso pointed out.<\/p>\n

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