9,000 refugee children from Nahr El Bared camp return to school because of “Dubai Cares” – UNRWA press release

9,000 children from Nahr El Bared Camp return to school because "Dubai Cares"

Beirut – 28 December 2007  Most of the children from the heavily damaged Nahr El Bared camp in Lebanon have already been able to return to school thanks to a donation of US$ 1.277 million made by Dubai Cares. The last group of children will resume classes in January in the new temporary schools located in the Beddawi and Nahr El Bared areas.

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General warmly welcomed the US$ 1.277 million donation from Dubai Cares, “an organization which has risen from the society of Dubai, whose leader has inspired his people to enthusiastically donate to a good cause: the education of poor children”, she said.

Dubai Cares was launched in Ramadan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to raise money to help educate 1 million children in poor countries.

With Dubai Cares contribution, UNRWA has rented, furnished and equipped schools in the Bedawi camp area, to allow displaced children to continue their education as normally as possible. Traumatised children are also receiving psychological support, and recreational activities are being organised for them.”

The Commissioner-General said that, “one cannot imagine the distress of all these displaced kids who have had to live in miserable conditions because of the conflict in North Lebanon. Schooling will bring them stability and extra-curricular activities will create a favourable environment for their psychological development.”

UNRWA provides basic education to 500,000 Palestine refugee children in Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. In addition, the Agency has developed programmes for children, according to their needs, such as remedial education, support for those with learning disabilities and other special needs.

For more information please contact UNRWA Public Information Office tel: 01-840468. e-mail: h.samra@unrwa.org