Lebanon: Commission increases its aid to the victims of the Nahr Al Bared crisis to €28 million
Brussels, 20 June 2008
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relation and Neighbourhood Policy, will co-chair the International Donor Conference for the Recovery and Reconstruction of the Palestinian Refugee Camp at Nahr Al Bared taking place on 23 June in Vienna. The Commission remains among the biggest donors helping the victims of last year's fighting between Lebanese armed forces and the Islamic movement Fatah al Islam in and around this Palestinian refugee camp in Northern Lebanon. Nahr el Bared has been largely destroyed and remains partly inaccessible almost one year after the cessation of hostilities. Approximately 31,000 displaced refugees still need international support to meet their basic needs. The Lebanese population living in the direct neighbourhood of the camp suffered also greatly from the military operation. The Commission reacted to this crisis with the mobilisation of the instruments at its disposal: the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department ECHO (€13.2 million) and the Instrument for Stability (€6.8 million). The Commission has now decided to mobilise additional €8 million, under the European Neighbourhood Policy budget, to address the reconstruction needs that will be presented by the Lebanese Government at the Conference, bringing its total support to €28 million.
Before her departure to Vienna, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “We are not only a major international donor for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon but we also have a constructive dialogue on this issue with the Lebanese authorities in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Improving the situation in the Palestinian refugee camps is also an essential contribution to the internal stability of Lebanon. I hope that after the agreement reached in Qatar and the election of President Sleiman, the two immediate challenges – formation of a national unity government and thorough electoral reform - will be addressed without delay.”
The Commission initially provided €5.2 million in emergency aid following the crisis. Further €8 million for humanitarian aid allowed for the continuation of the provision of food assistance, water, temporary shelter, health services, livelihood support and protection to those displaced. Simultaneously, priority has been placed on the rehabilitation of shelter as well as water and sanitation infrastructure in and around the camp in order to facilitate the return of the displaced. The Commission also supports the coordination of aid activities led by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "These Palestinian refugees have been displaced not just once but twice. The European Commission is among the biggest donors because we believe that our support is crucial in helping these refugees to improve their situation as soon as possible."
The emergency aid was complemented with €6.8 million under the Instrument for Stability, aimed at early rehabilitation measures, rubble removal and technical assistance in preparing the reconstruction phase, implemented chiefly through UNRWA.
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