2007 Lebanon Emergency

Since the beginning of the current crisis in Nahr el-Bared Camp, UNRWA’s teachers at Majdal French KG and School in Beddawi Camp have been organising art and handicraft activities as well as theatre for more than 150 children on a daily bases.

On Monday, 2 July starting at 11:00am they will organise in Majdal School a play called, ôLet me liveö written and performed by a group of children and an exhibition of their drawing painting and handicraft. UNRWA invites people to attend to see this play and hear the children express, in their own words what they are feeling and enduring.

Children taking part in UNRWA recreation activities in Beddawi Camp.

Situation in the North: The Lebanese army ambushed members of Fatah al-Islam in the Al-Qalamoon area where six members of the group were killed. Strong deployment of Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces continues in Tripoli Town. Numbers of families who have fled Nahr el-Bared Camp remain the same. In Beddawi Camp, all UNRWA installations are operating normally. UNRWAÆs Emergency Operation continues in north Lebanon Area. Daily services, repairs, planning and assessments are being made to meet the needs of the displaced. In addition, UNRWA is coordinating with NGOs on needs. To date, 5,045 families are accommodated in north Lebanon Area, while 2,675 families live in Beddawi Camp and 278 families are accommodated in six Government Schools in Beddawi town.

Situation in central Beirut area: UNRWA installations are operating normally. Some 542 displaced families from Nahr el-Bared Camp have arrived in central Lebanon area (Beirut) so far.

Situation in Beqaa: All UNRWA operations in the Beqaa area are functioning normally. A total of 103 displaced families have arrived in the Beqaa area.

Situation in Tyre: All installations operating normally. A total of 226 displaced families from Nahr el-Bared Camp arrived in the Tyre area.

Situation in Saida: UNRWA installations operating normally. It was reported that three members of Jund El Sham who allegedly hurled a grenade at the Lebanese Army checkpoint two days ago have been arrested. Reports also indicated the newly fixed reinforcements for Jund El Sham positions in Taamir area in the outskirts of Ein El Hilweh camp were dismantled. A total of 333 displaced families from Nahr el-Bared Camp arrived in the Saida area.

Logistics

-Three trucks loaded with hygiene kits from Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) donations were received yesterday including 1605 cartons of hygiene kits, 395 cartons confirmed in pipe line will be received today.
-At least 2100 jerry cans and 3000 bucket with lid cap were received from UNICEF.
1740L of bottled water was provided to the Public Schools as well 3024L were provided to UNRWA Schools in Beddawi Camp.
-535 food packages and 1446 hygiene kits of KRCS donations were issued to Beddawi Camp in preparedness for third cycle distribution for the displaced people starting on 29 June (today).

Relief and Social Services

-Preparing to distribute KRCS donations will start again today.
-Yesterday the relief and social services office met with NGOs to clarify the procedures and schedules for distribution. NGOs were requested to participate in the awareness campaign.
- MERCY- USA will donate 8500 floor mats.

Health

-The health coordinator will meet with NGOs to investigate ways to support the needs of women who have recently given birth and are located in the Beddawi Public School for Boys.
-A meeting was held with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) to discuss ongoing coordination of issuing of medicines.

Water and Sanitation

-The maintenance for 10 shelters was completed yesterday.
-All the compound schools, clubs, and other locations all around Beddawi Camp were sprayed with insecticides.
-ACTED (ngo) provided 20000L of water to the Governmental girl schools;
-Garbage collection for the last two day was done by UNRWA staff. At least 107 m3 of disposal garbage were collected yesterday from Beddawi Camp. It is estimated this is four to five times the normal amount collect during normal times.
-As of Monday, UNICEF will stop providing bottled water to the public schools. UNRWAÆs water and sanitation teams will start distributing drinking water in 2000L rigid tanks to the Public Schools as of Monday.

Education

-Three recreational activities were conducted by UNRWA and French Kindergartens. Also, three psychosocial activities were held by Child Protection Net, and two recreational handicrafts activities were conducted by UNRWA.
-Entertainment activities by UNICEF and Palestinian scouts were conducted.
-Awareness sessions and group guidance water consumption were conducted.
-Health awareness sessions were conducted by PCRS.
-UNRWA will investigate provisions for a mobile cinema set up in the playground in Beddawi Camp.

Situation in the North: Intense clashes continue between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam members in Nahr el- Bared camp and in Qalamoun (Tripoli). The Lebanese Army killed six militants after locating a cave they were using as a hideout. Strong deployment of Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces continues in Tripoli Town. It is estimated 6,244 families have left Nahr el-Bared Camp. In neighbouring Beddawi Camp, all UNRWA installations (other than schools) are operating normally. UNRWAÆs crisis operation continues in northern Lebanon Area. Ongoing services, repairs, planning and assessments are being made to meet the needs of the displaced. To date, 5,045 families are accommodated in North Lebanon Area, while 2,675 families live in Beddawi camp and 278 families are accommodated in six Government Schools in Beddawi town. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society evacuated eight Palestinian civilians from Nahr el-Bared on 26 June.

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Situation in central Beirut area: UNRWA installations are operating normally. Some 542 displaced families from Nahr el-Bared Camp have arrived in central Lebanon area so far.

Situation in Beqaa: All UNRWA operations in the Beqaa area are functioning normally. A total of 103 displaced families have arrived in the Beqaa area.

Situation in Tyre: All installations operating normally. A total of 221 displaced families from Nahr el-Bared Camp arrived in the Tyre area.

Situation in Saida: UNRWA installations operating normally. The Lebanese Army carried out raids on places at DalaaÆ Street and Hai El Zohor in a search of people affiliated with Al-Qaeda or Fateh Al-Islam. A total of 333 displaced families have arrived in Saida from Nahr el-Bared Camp. Last night a sound bomb was hurled in the Hiteen sector in Ein el-Hilweh camp. No casualties were reported.

Water and Sanitation

-Maintenance of water supply network in Beddawi Schools’ compound has been completed to avoid any shortage in water and ensure water quality.

-UNICEF will cease supplying water to Public Schools outside the camp. Instead, -UNRWA will install rigid tanks there and ACTED will fill them and monitor the quality. -UNICEF will continue providing water in UNRWA schools and for families with children less than 3 years.

-Cleaning and flushing of drainage has been completed in Lukman and Beddawi Public School for Boys.

Shelter

-The painting, fixing of curtain partitions and windows at the Second Public School for Girls is complete.

Logistics

-Distributing occurred of 3360L of bottled water to displaced people in all Public Schools within Beddawi area.

-115 food packages from the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) were distributed to displaced people at some of Beddawi Public Schools.

-Seven rigid water tanks of 2000L capacity are received and stored at the Stadium of Rachid Karameh Centre. This means 20 of the 25 expected have been delivered.

-Tables from schools were moved from the compound of schools in Beddawi Camp and stored at elsewhere in Baddawi.

Relief and Social Services

-KRCS donated 110 food parcels. These were distributed among families in Public Schools and Husseini Hospital.

-A list of additional needs related to various clusters was submitted to KRCS.

-Results of bacteriological test from ACTED will be handed over to the health coordinator.

-Maintenance for shelters of host families continues daily.

-240 garbage bags were distributed among the displaced people in the schools.

-A generator in the First Public School for Girls is repaired.

-The water and sanitation engineer requested authority to provide maintenance to shelters of host families outside the camp.

Scheduled meetings for today

-The Water and Sanitation Cluster will hold a meeting in Tripoli today.

-The Shelter Cluster will also hold a meeting in Tripoli today.

As part of the relief effort in northern Lebanon, the following information is a general overview of ongoing work of UNRWA and NGOs.

Shelter
-Partitioning of the hall of the First Public School for Girls will start today.
-Logistics cluster requested 12 stand fans to be provided in the school.
-Minor maintenance in the Public School of Beddawi for Boys was completed, in addition to some electrical fittings. Two fire extinguishers were provided by the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC).
-Partitioning the rooms in Second Public School of Beddawi for Girls (for pregnant and delivered women) is completed.

Water and Sanitation
-Yesterday, water and sanitation cluster visited the six public schools with the health coordinator and shelter engineer to check the sanitary fittings. Today, they will visit the Second Public School for Girls to clear the drainage.
-ACTED (ngo) supplied 40000L of water for the water tanks in the streets of Beddawi Camp and 20000L to Public School of Beddawi for Girls.
-Today maintenance work will continue in UNRWA Schools and the shelters of host families.
Five water samples were tested by ACTED and the results were clear.

Logistics
-Bottled water was distributed at the Public Schools of Beddawi yesterday.
30 food parcels donated from a Lebanese NGO were received by UNRWA.
-Seven water tanks of 2000L capacity were received.
-Various fittings and sanitation items were received and delivered to the water and sanitation cluster.
-The relief and logistics teams are preparing to start distribution of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) food parcels (third cycle) on 27 July.

Education
-Two arts and hand crafts activities were conducted by UNRWA.
-General entertainment and games is being provided by UNRWA including physical education at Kawkab School.
-Daily classroom and corridor tours are being conducted to check for the cleanliness.
-Ten posters were distributed and posted in the schools about the respiratory diseases.
-Nabah (ngo) is implementing their own child program.
-Psychosocial activities are held everyday by Nabah in UNRWAÆs schools.
-Health awareness session about deficiency diseases is being conducted by Nabah also.

Health
-Beddawi Public School for boys needs washing materials and cleaning supplies.
-In Rawda School, at least 17 families are being housed without a washing machine or refrigerators. These items are urgently required.
-Total of 12 women delivered babies. UNRWA will provide baby beds.

Relief and Social Services
-8500 floor mattresses will be donated by Mercy- USA Association.
-The third cycle of KRCS donations will include: 4800 food parcels, 2674 kitchen kits, 2365 mattresses, and 10,000 pillows.
-Today relief and social services will distribute KRCS donations in Lukman and Fajr Schools and Husseini Hospital.
-Updating data base of displaced people is still in process.