2007 Lebanon Emergency

Today the Government of Japan has concluded an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in which Japan will contribute Yen 588 million (US$ 5.5 million) to the Agency’s Emergency Appeal for Northern Lebanon. 

A signing ceremony was held today at UNRWA’s Lebanon Field Office in Beirut in which UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Karen AbuZayd, and the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Yoshihisa Kuroda, signed an Exchange of Notes.  This Japanese contribution will support the construction of temporary shelters for the displaced from Nahr El Bared camp, as well as two prefabricated schools in Northern Lebanon, the provision of psycho-social support for traumatized children and hygiene kits.   

This contribution will promote peace-building and help improve living conditions for displaced families by providing them with secure housing pending their return to the reconstructed camp. It will also ensure access to formal education for Palestine refugee students for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year and will help the displaced children recover from the trauma of the war.

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd said “with this generous donation, Japan is signalling its commitment to our emergency work in Lebanon and the Nahr el Bared project which will be the largest in UNRWA’s history. This is a major challenge and I am delighted that donors like Japan are offering us their support. My gratitude goes out to the people and Government of Japan.” 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on 3 March inaugurated a prefabricated school, funded by the Government of Germany, in the area adjacent to Nahr el Bared camp. The inauguration was held in the presence of the German Chargé d’Affaires in Lebanon, his Excellency Mr. Hansjoerg Haber, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon Mr. Richard Cook, as well as representatives from the PLO and representatives of the local community and active organizations in the camp.  

Germany has traditionally been a major donor to UNRWA. In the aftermath of the Nahr El Bared crisis, it responded quickly to the emergency needs generated by the crisis, contributing more than $3 Million to the Flash Appeal and Emergency Appeal launched by UNRWA for North Lebanon. The money donated was used for food and for installing three prefabricated schools, 2 in Beddawi camp and a third in the area adjacent to Nahr El Bared.  

Richard Cook, Director of UNRWA Affairs, thanked the German Government on behalf of UNRWA and the Palestine refugee community, for the generous donation. He pointed out that the three schools will not only benefit students but also the surrounding community. “The German Government recognizes, as UNRWA does, how important it is to ensure that the children of NBC are able to continue with their education in a safe and secure environment, in a climate of comfort and stability,” said Cook, after cutting the ribbon at the entrance of the school.  

The German Chargé d’Affaires Hansjoerg Haber said: “Providing education means to believe in the future of our children”. 

UNRWA inaugurated the first two prefabricated schools in Beddawi camp in December 2007. This third school is yet another sign of UNRWA´s commitment to ensure that displaced people from Nahr el Bared are able to lead their lives in as normal a way as possible, in the period before they can return to their homes in a reconstructed Nahr el Bared camp.