Welfare Association has continued its work with the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and in particular in the Nahr el Bared Palestinian Refugee Camp, located north of Tripoli. From May to September 2007, the conflict which took place within this camp between the Lebanese Army and the non-Palestinian Fatah al-Islam group who took shelter there, caused the displacement of the entire population of 30,000 people from the Camp and the total destruction of 85% of the camp’s infrastructure including the electricity grid, sewage and water mains, all roads, and the vast majority of commercial and residential buildings (80% in the camp and 40% in the adjacent area). Economic activity was halted, apsnd household earners were left without a source of income. Relief, provided by UNRWA and local and international NGOs, was coordinated through UNRWA-led cluster meetings. 2,000 families were allowed to return to the adjacent areas around the camp by the middle of 2008, with 400 of these returning families resettled into poor-quality pre-fabricated units and other forms of temporary shelters while rubble was cleared and waiting for the rebuilding to begin. Their living conditions are very difficult; the Lebanese Army guards all camp entry and exit points, restricting movement and families suffer from insufficient access to water, electricity and health care services.
In 2008, WA working with seven local NGO partners, was awarded a new grant from the Big Lottery Fund for a 4-year project that will give support to those returning to the camp and help kick-start some of the businesses that were destroyed in camp and begin generating incomes for these families. The project will address mental and physical health needs, as well as provide support for alternative livelihoods options. Health and hygiene kits will be distributed to pregnant women and new mothers. Micro-credit lending schemes and vocational training courses, linked to job placement services will support economic development within the camp.
In addition, Welfare Association has been able to offer psycho-social support and counselling activities to children traumatised by the sudden displacement from their homes, and their lives turned upside down. The number of children seeking support doubled during the immediate aftermath of the conflict. Coping mechanisms of the children will be improved through individual and group therapy, and social support mechanisms will be created for the children and their families through the training of teachers and support workers from the community.
|
