A child has drowned after a boat carrying 39 migrants trying to reach Europe capsized off the northern coast of Lebanon, the army has said.

All other passengers were rescued off the coast of Akkar province, the army said, claiming that the Syrian migrants were being smuggled to Cyprus.

However, Lebanese Al-Jadeed TV reported that the drowned five-year-old child was from Palestine.

Lebanon is host to the highest number of Syrian refugees per capita, with at least 1 million registered in the country.

As violence wanes in Syria, Lebanese authorities have begun organising the return of refugees who are willing to go back. However, UN officials say that with no peace deal in Syria, it is too early for the mass return of refugees.