Beirut: Unrwa (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) launched on Monday a flash appeal for US$12.7 million to address the urgent needs of the thousands of Palestine refugees displaced by the fighting in Nahr El Bared in north Lenanon.
More than 27,000 Palestinian refugees have so far fled their homes, most taking refuge in the nearby Beddawi camp.
The money will be spent on delivering assistance to the displaced over the coming 90 days. It includes plans for food assistance, non-food items and shelter, both immediately in order to relieve the congestion of Beddawi camp and in the short term to ensure suitable temporary shelters and provide minimum and dignified living standards to those in distress.
The flash appeal also includes provisions for emergency health, water, sanitation services and protection, as well as a means to enable refugee pupils affected by the crisis to sit for public examinations.
The population of Beddawi camp has swollen from 16,000 persons to around 37,000, jeopardizing the lives of inhabitants and stretching the already over-crowded living conditions.
Unrwa is working with officials in Tripoli to prepare temporary alternative
The commissioner general of Unrwa, Karen Abu Zayd, said “The situation in the camps was already extremely difficult and now it has deteriorated even further. This fighting has placed refugees in the front line and I am very concerned about the precarious situation in which they find themselves. Life in Beddawi camp has become unbearable and I appeal to donors to help us take immediate action.''
