The Syrian refugee crisis is one such challenge whose impact will prove debilitating for Lebanon if left unresolved, and for numerous reasons.

Certainly Lebanon’s already-creaking infrastructure is taking the brunt of the influx of refugees. The 1.1 million registered Syrian refugees, and at least another 400,000 persons, now equal more than a third of the country’s Lebanese population of some 4 million, heavily taxing the meager resources of Lebanon, which even before the arrival of the refugees was struggling with inadequate electricity and water supplies.

To truly understand the impact of the crisis on this tiny Middle Eastern country and put things in perspective, keep in mind that while Jordan and Turkey are also grappling with the refugee issue, the former is nearly eight times as large as Lebanon while the latter is 24 times as large.

In fact, the arrival in Europe of refugees equal in number to those in Lebanon have upended the entire continent, causing tensions among its member states and even endangering its precious Schengen policy. Note that this is a continent with a population of nearly three-quarters of a billion inhabitants and corresponding infrastructure

Also, unlike Jordan and Turkey, which have relatively uniform demographics, at risk is Lebanon’s fragile sectarian balance, which the country has worked hard to maintain in order to preserve its stability.

Moreover, the Syrian crisis has wrought havoc on Lebanon’s own political scene, precipitating greater discord in the country and exacerbating tensions between rival camps and between their supporters.

Lebanon is certainly in desperate need of monetary assistance to care for the refugees it is generously hosting, but this is a temporary measure. To truly help, Europe needs to find a permanent solution to the crisis in Syria, one that would allow these displaced souls to safely return to their homes.