UNHCR Lebanon head discusses critical aid to Lebanese communities in Mt Lebanon
UNHCR Lebanon head discusses critical aid to Lebanese communities in Mt Lebanon
UNHCR Lebanon, 03 Oct 2014
URL: https://www.facebook.com/UNHCRLebanon
SIBLINE, Lebanon, 2 October 2014 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Representative in Lebanon Ninette Kelley today met with Sibline Mayor Mohammad Oubar to review progress on construction of a water reservoir, part of a massive project that will ensure regular water supply to more than 80,000 Lebanese residents and some 16,500 Syrian refugees living in Mount Lebanon.
The project, which is part of a range of initiatives across Lebanon designed to support local communities, will see the construction of ten reservoirs across ten communities in Mt. Lebanon, beginning with Rmeileh, Sibline, Barja, Borjein, Chhim and Baasir.
“UNHCR’s assistance is very important to Sibline”, Oubar said, “because it is actually benefiting both the Lebanese and the Syrians living in the area. It is important for us that UNHCR’s support and commitment continue”.
“Lebanon today faces an unprecedented challenge that requires urgent support for its already overburdened infrastructure,” Kelley said, following the meeting in Sibline. “This community, like so many others in Lebanon, has demonstrated truly impressive generosity in welcoming refugees from the conflict in Syria. These projects aim to address their most urgent needs while at the same time giving them the means to cope.”
The US$ 3 million two-year project was developed in consultation with municipal leaders, regional authorities and Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water, which helped identify priority areas where pressure on water supplies has increased. It is funded through a grant from the Saudi Fund for Development and the six initial projects are 75 percent complete.
In 2014, UNHCR is implementing over 140 institutional and community support projects across Lebanon with a total value of US$ 44 million. These have had an impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents, as well as Syrian refugees.
During her visit to the towns of Sibline and Baasir, Kelley was accompanied by partner ACTED, the French NGO that is providing technical supervision and close follow-up to construction work on the reservoirs.
The project, which is part of a range of initiatives across Lebanon designed to support local communities, will see the construction of ten reservoirs across ten communities in Mt. Lebanon, beginning with Rmeileh, Sibline, Barja, Borjein, Chhim and Baasir.
“UNHCR’s assistance is very important to Sibline”, Oubar said, “because it is actually benefiting both the Lebanese and the Syrians living in the area. It is important for us that UNHCR’s support and commitment continue”.
“Lebanon today faces an unprecedented challenge that requires urgent support for its already overburdened infrastructure,” Kelley said, following the meeting in Sibline. “This community, like so many others in Lebanon, has demonstrated truly impressive generosity in welcoming refugees from the conflict in Syria. These projects aim to address their most urgent needs while at the same time giving them the means to cope.”
The US$ 3 million two-year project was developed in consultation with municipal leaders, regional authorities and Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water, which helped identify priority areas where pressure on water supplies has increased. It is funded through a grant from the Saudi Fund for Development and the six initial projects are 75 percent complete.
In 2014, UNHCR is implementing over 140 institutional and community support projects across Lebanon with a total value of US$ 44 million. These have had an impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents, as well as Syrian refugees.
During her visit to the towns of Sibline and Baasir, Kelley was accompanied by partner ACTED, the French NGO that is providing technical supervision and close follow-up to construction work on the reservoirs.