2007 Lebanon Emergency

Beirut – 21 November 2008:

A high level delegation representing UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) donor countries and the Agency’s Advisory Commission members visited Lebanon camps on 20 and 21 November. They were briefed by UNRWA officials on progress made in response to Nahr el-Bared crisis as well on the Camp Improvement Initiative underway in other camps.     

 The two-day visit provided an opportunity for donors to see first hand the deteriorating infrastructure and the harsh living conditions of refugees. The delegation visited Shatila and Bourj Barajneh camp where they were briefed about the progress achieved on the Camp Improvement Initiative projects and the future challenges ahead. On the second day the delegation visited Palestinian Refugees gatherings in South Lebanon. They were also briefed on progress made regarding the Nahr el-Bared crisis and the funding status.

During this donors’ visit, UNRWA stressed on the need to provide funding for the relief and recovery assistance granted to Nahr el-Bared displaced persons pending the reconstruction of the camp. Both the Agency’s Relief and Early Recovery Appeal launched in September of this year and the Reconstruction appeal itself remains under-funded. UNRWA expressed confidence that all donors, Arab donors included, will come forth and support UNRWA’s reconstruction and early recovery activities. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had started in October of this year, through support from UNDP, the clearing of the rubble from the camp of Nahr el-Bared destroyed last year. The reconstruction of the first part is expected to start in January 2009. The total reconstruction is expected to be completed within the next three years.

Some 4.6 million Palestine refugees in UNRWA’s five fields of operations – Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – are eligible for Agency services, including education, healthcare, social services, shelter, micro-credit loans and emergency aid. UNRWA employs nearly 30,000 staff, the vast majority of whom are Palestine refugees. UNRWA’s operations are financed almost entirely by voluntary contributions from donors. The Agency’s regular budget for 2008-2009 is $1.1 billion, which covers the recurrent costs of the Agency’s education, health and relief and social services activities.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in the presence of the German Chargé d’Affaires, Ms Irene Plank,  inaugurated on 29 October,  a new Vocational Training Centre in the North, fully funded by the German Government providing additional training places for North Lebanon Area students.

The Centre located near Nahr el-Bared camp offers nine courses focused in an initial period, on construction trades. It will run in a rented building for two intakes (2008-2010 and 2009-2011) providing marketable skills to around 250 trainees per intake.  

The opening of the new centre will help Palestinian youth living in the North to improve their skills and find jobs, contributing thus to the improvement of their families.   

Some 4.6 million Palestine refugees in UNRWA’s five fields of operations – Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – are eligible for Agency services, including education, healthcare, social services, shelter, micro-credit loans and emergency aid.

UNRWA employs nearly 30,000 staff, the vast majority of whom are Palestine refugees. UNRWA’s operations are financed almost entirely by voluntary contributions from donors. The Agency’s regular budget for 2008-2009 is $1.1 billion, which covers the recurrent costs of the Agency’s education, health and relief and social services activities.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and in collaboration with the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee and the Palestinian Liberation Organization launched on 29 October the rubble removal operations in Nahr el-Bared camp.

The ceremony took place on the edge of the camp overlooking the ongoing works. The official launch was attended by UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Mr. Michael Williams, UNDP resident representative Ms Marta Ruedas, UNRWA’s Deputy Commissioner-General Mr. Filipo Grandi, the Chairman of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee Ambassador Khalil Mekkawi, the PLO Representative in Lebanon Mr. Abbas Zaki, in addition to heads of UN missions, ambassadors and representatives of the refugee community.

On behalf of UNRWA, UNDP is implementing the rubble removal. This constitutes the prelude to the start of the reconstruction process in January 2009 that is expected to take three to four years and to be split into eight packages.  

Some 4.6 million Palestine refugees in UNRWA’s five fields of operations – Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – are eligible for Agency services, including education, healthcare, social services, shelter, micro-credit loans and emergency aid. UNRWA employs nearly 30,000 staff, the vast majority of whom are