2007 Lebanon Emergency

A delegation of high level donor countries representatives visited Nahr El Bared Refugee camp in North Lebanon 12 June and were briefed by senior officials from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) about the progress made in response to Nahr El Bared crisis and plans for the reconstruction and recovery of the camp and its surrounding areas.

The donors’ delegation started by visiting the adjacent area to Nahr El Bared camp where they met with returnees. The delegation that is formed of UNRWA Advisory Commission members, also visited UNRWA’s newly constructed clinic and temporary housing units that are accommodating displaced families, until the reconstruction of Nahr El Bared camp. The delegation stopped at the old UNRWA compound where rubble is being removed, before driving through the old camp.

The visit comes after a two-day meeting in Syria, of the above-mentionned commission, that meets twice a year.

On this occasion, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon Mr. Richard Cook thanked the “donor community for its continuous support to UNRWA and its commitment to improve the living conditions of Palestine refugees in Lebanon.” He added that “the rubble removal of UNRWA compound is another sign of the firm commitment of UNRWA and the Lebanese Government to reconstruct the camp. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had started on 5 June clearing rubble from its compound in Nahr El Bared camp which was destroyed in the conflict last year.   The donors visit comes after a briefing session that was organized in Beirut on 9 June, in advance of the International Donor Conference that will be held on 23 June 2008 in Vienna, on the plan for the recovery and reconstruction of Nahr el Bared camp and surrounding areas.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) started on June 5 clearing rubble from its compound in Nahr El Bared camp which was destroyed in the conflict last year. The Lebanese Army through the Lebanese Mine Action Centre (LMAC) are providing  the Agency with explosive ordnance disposal support. Once cleared, the UNRWA compound site will be used as operations area for the Nahr El Bared camp rubble removal and sorting. The main rubble removal from the camp, in partnership with UNDP, is expected to start soon.  

“Starting the rubble removal is an important step in our plans to reconstruct Nahr el Bared camp and it should indicate to Palestine refugees and to the wider world how committed UNRWA and the Lebanese Government are to returning the displaced population to their home” said Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Richard J. Cook. Nahr El Bared camp reconstruction is the largest single project UNRWA has ever undertaken. An international donor conference for the recovery and reconstruction of Nahr el Bared camp and surrounding areas will be held on 23 June 2008 in Vienna.

In preparation for this International conference, UNRWA and the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC) are organizing a  briefing session on the plan for the recovery and reconstruction in Beirut on 9 June. UNRWA is still providing for the needs of the Palestinians displaced from Nahr El Bared camp and the returnees. It has constructed 574 temporary shelters around Nahr El Bared and has plans for the construction of additional shelters. 3100 displaced families are receiving rental subsidies.

About 1900 families have returned to the adjacent area. Food and non-food items are regularly distributed to 5554 displaced families. Three prefabricated schools have been put in place and two health centres established in the adjacent area.