2007 Lebanon Emergency

Beirut, 11 December 2008: The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Karen AbuZayd, who has just completed a three days mission in Lebanon, including a visit to Nahr el-Bared camp, appealed to donors and the Lebanese government to intensify efforts to secure additional donations for relief activities and the reconstruction of the camp. 

UNRWA has recently received a number of contributions from donors for its Relief and Early Recovery Appeal (RERA) that will enable it to cater for the critical needs of the displaced refugees of Nahr el-Bared camp until early 2009. Thanks to generous donations from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) (1 million USD), Italy (400,000 Euro), Norway (453,000 USD), Germany (350,000 Euro), the Balearic Islands (180,000 Euro), and ECHO (1.5 million Euro), a total of 8.9 million USD have been pledged to date, including an earlier contribution of 4.3 million USD by the USA, who was the first donor government to pledge on the day of the RERA launch on 11 September. 

These new donations will enable the Agency to provide the displaced families with food assistance and rental subsidies and install solar panels on the temporary shelters. Meanwhile, UNRWA is receiving very positive signs from other Arab and Western donors regarding additional contributions. If these are confirmed, more temporary shelters will be constructed and rental subsidies for displaced families living in rented accommodation will be covered for a longer period. 

However, the Agency is still faced with a major financial shortfall for the reconstruction of Nahr el-Bared camp, which remains largely under-funded. Out of 282 million USD required by UNRWA for the reconstruction of the camp and the rehabilitation of Beddawi camp, 32.1 million USD have been pledged to date, of which 27.1 USD have been received. This amount has allowed the Agency to begin the rubble removal and de-mining operations, to complete the design of construction package one in the first of eight sectors, and will also cover the construction costs for package one and part of package two.

On 29 November 2008, the Italian Embassy’s Development Cooperation Office and UNRWA organized a day of sports events for young Palestine Refugees in Lebanon.

The event was held in UNRWA’s Siblin Training Centre in the presence of the ambassador of Italy in Lebanon Mr. Gabriele Cecchia, and the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon Mr. Salvatore Lombardo. The event included sports activities and competitions in the fields of racing, football, table tennis, volleyball and basketball. At the end of the day, medals and cups were awarded to winners.  

Participants came from all Palestinian camps in Lebanon, and were accompanied by their families and 40 athletic trainers. All participants were provided with uniforms, shoes and bags with the logo of “Palestiniadi” and other sponsors.    To make the beneficial effect of sports last longer than “Palestiniadi” event, the project has also included the rehabilitation of two sports spaces situated in UNRWA schools in the camps of Shatila (Beirut) and Rashidiye (Tyre). It aims at promoting peace and dialogue through sports.

The idea was born from a need expressed in the camps by the young Palestinians and their families to have more recreational spaces that help them get away from their very difficult living conditions. This is a pilot experience that may be replicated in other camps and disciplines. During 2009, rehabilitation of sporting facilities will expand to all UNRWA schools and closed spaces inside the Palestine refugee Camps in Lebanon.

In his address to the participants, his excellency Mr. Gabriele Cecchia, Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon announced a new contribution of 400,000 Euros by the Italian Government to the UNRWA lief and early Recovery Appeal. In addition to this, theUniversity of Perugia will award two scholarships for Sports and Motor Sciences studies in Italy.

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.