The Lebanese government has cut back sharply on the number of Syrian refugees it is allowing into the country, United Nations representatives in Lebanon said yesterday.

The country has the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world: one in four residents is a refugee.

The government has said it cannot cope with the one million-plus Syrians and has asked for funds to help look after them. Following a constant increase in refugees to Lebanon since the start of 2012, UN figures show a decrease of around 40,000 refugees since the end of September.