UK supports host communities in South Lebanon
4 Jun 2014 03:13 PM
British Ambassador
Fletcher visits south Lebanon, reiterates the UK's support to the Lebanese
people coping with the refugee crisis
British Ambassador to Lebanon
Tom Fletcher visited south Lebanon where he saw first-hand the UK-funded
municipalities Host Communities Programme, implemented by UNDP. The programme
will support municipalities to increase delivery of livelihood services in
areas of Lebanon most affected by the Syrian refugee influx.
Ambassador Fletcher, accompanied
by Luca Renda, UNDP Country Director, met the Mayor of Bissarieh and visited
the Fishermen’s Cooperative in Sarafand, with the head of the Union of
Municipalities of Sahel el Zahrani. The Ambassador discussed the needs of the
local community, with the mayor and focus group at the municipality, and how
the UK will help meet them through the Host Community Programme. The UK
response to Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis is currently £124 million
and has helped thousands of host communities and Syrian refugees through UN
agencies and international NGOs operating throughout the
country.
In his statement before the
media at the Fishermen’s Cooperative in Sarafand, Fletcher said:
‘I’m visiting the front line of human generosity: Lebanese towns
where Syrian refugees outnumber locals. The local community has prioritised
their most urgent needs – we listened and we will respond. Lebanon will
not be left alone to face this ongoing humanitarian
crisis.’
Luca Renda, UNDP Country
Director said: ‘“We are here to say that the International
Community and the UNDP is not only in Lebanon to help Syrian refugees but also
to help the Lebanese Communities. Our team of nationals and internationals are
working with the municipality and local community to enhance social cohesion
and our aim today is to listen to the needs of the locals and to make sure that
our promises are converted into action.”
Ambassador Fletcher also visited
the Caritas Migrant Centre in Saida, accompanied by UNHCR Deputy Country
Director Jean Paul Cavalieri, where he met with women refugees. His visit comes
a week before the ‘Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in
Conflict’ takes place in London from 10-13 June, which will be hosted by
Foreign Secretary William Hague and Angelina Jolie. Lebanese television channel
LBCI will broadcast exclusive footage of Ambassador Fletcher’s visit
during ‘Nharkom Said’ programme on Wednesday 11
June.
Notes to
editors
- UNDP’s Host Communities
Programme – supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs – will
improve services at a local government level, directly benefitting local
communities. This programme is funded by the Department for International
Development (DFID-UK) and is additional to the humanitarian commitments already
made in response to the Syria crisis. The UK, working with Lebanese
municipalities and UNDP, will deliver improved municipal and basic services in
the most affected municipalities.
More information about the UK’s humanitarian aid to Syria is
available online.
- The Global Summit to End Sexual
Violence in Conflict will be the largest event ever held on this issue, with
over 148 governments and international bodies represented, as well as NGOs and
members of the military, medical and legal professions from around the world.
Lebanon is one of 148 governments who have endorsed the International Declaration on Sexual Violence in
Conflict