The Lebanese president on Friday urged the international community to help with the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland to reduce the burden on the country's economy, the Presidency website reported.

"Lebanon today is suffering from a financial, economic, educational and social crisis," said Michel Aoun during his meeting with Chairman of the Anglo-Arab Organization Nazmi Ogi, accompanied by a British-European parliamentary delegation.

"We call upon the international community not to delay the return of Syrian refugees because Lebanon's economy is suffering tremendously," he said.

Lebanon hosts 976,000 registered Syrian refugees according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, while the government estimates the true number of Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million.