UNRWA and Lebanese Government launch plan for reconstruction of Nahr el-Bared camp – UNRWA Press Release

UNRWA and the Lebanese Government launch Nahr el-Bared Master Plan

Beirut, Tuesday 12 February, 2008: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Government of Lebanon and the Palestine Liberation Organization launched today the plan for the reconstruction of Nahr el-Bared camp. Launching the plan, UNRWA's Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd described it as "requiring a massive collaborative effort and it will be a long and difficult undertaking".

This Master Plan will be a vehicle for funding the reconstruction. UNRWA will be working closely with the Lebanese Government, the World Bank, and the Palestinian Community as well as with other UN agencies and NGOs.

The Lebanese Army is now allowing access for some displaced families to enter areas of the camp that are considered safe in order to retrieve their valuables and documents. Once this process is finished, UNRWA will be given access to remove the rubble in preparation for the reconstruction.

In the planning, UNRWA will not only reconstruct the camp but will also make it a better and healthier environment to live in.

"The reconstruction of Nahr el-Bared camp will be by far the biggest single project undertaken by UNRWA," said Karen AbuZayd. The Agency is counting on the generosity of the donor community and the collaboration of the Lebanese Government, the Palestinian Community, and all the other stakeholders.

Karen AbuZayd thanked the Lebanese Government for its support and commitment to improving the living conditions of the Palestine refugees in Lebanon pending a final solution to their problem.

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