UNRWA to construct a cemetery for Palestine refugees in Lebanon – UNRWA press release

PRESS RELEASE
19 October 2009

UNRWA to construct a cemetery for Palestine refugees through the support of Walid Joumblatt, CCC and the PLO

Beirut – 19 October 2009

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) signed on 19 October a lease agreement with H.E. Walid Joumblatt, Member of Parliament and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, for a 10000m2 land in Siblin to construct a cemetery for Palestine refugees in Lebanon. Mr. Joumblatt is providing the land for a nominal rent and, furthermore, has donated 100,000 USD to the project.

During a signing ceremony held at UNRWA’s Siblin Training Center Mr. Salvatore Lombardo, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, also signed an agreement with H.E. Abbas Zaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Lebanon, for administering the cemetery once it has been constructed. The PLO has provided 150,000 USD to the project, the Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has also generously donated 150,000 USD to the construction of the cemetery and was represented at the ceremony in Siblin by Mr. Said Khoury, Chairman of the CCC. UNRWA contributed to the project with the amount of 100,000 USD

The Government of Lebanon was represented on this occasion by Mr. Ziad Sayegh from the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee.

After the signing ceremony the signatories, guests and media visited the site where the cemetery will be constructed, laying a symbolic foundation stone in one corner of the site.

Finding a location for Palestine refugees in Lebanon to bury their dead has been an important priority in recent years because of a lack of adequate space in those locations where Palestinians have traditionally put their loved ones to rest. However, as Mr. Lombardo noted during the ceremony the current project could not have been accomplished without the initiative, generosity and support of MP Joumblatt.

UNRWA has tendered the construction of the cemetery and work will hopefully start very soon. Once constructed the cemetery will be administered by the "Authority for the administration of cemeteries in Lebanon", under the supervision of the "Organization for the care of Martyrs Families & Injured in Lebanon" established by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Lebanon.

Not an official document

For more information please contact UNRWA Public Information Office tel: 00961-1-840468

e-mail: h.elturk@unrwa.org