C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000104
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2020
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, KPAL, PTER, KCRM, LE
SUBJECT: UNRWA LEBANON DESPERATE FOR RESOURCES
1. (C) Summary: UNRWA Lebanon will exhaust its funding by
March 2010 and be forced to make drastic cuts without
additional support, United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA) Lebanon country representative Salvatore Lombardo
told donor countries on January 15. While PM Hariri and the
new Lebanese government has yet to define a clear strategy on
Palestinian issues, Lombardo assessed, it has been more
responsive to UNRWA requests recently. He also welcomed U.S.
development and security assistance in and around the Nahr
al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp. A significant curtailment
of UNRWA Lebanon's services -- which are often the only
public services available to Palestinian refugees -- would
likely impact negatively on security in the camps. End
summary.
UNRWA IN DIRE STRAITS
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2. (SBU) UNRWA Lebanon resrep Lombardo pleaded for increased
donor assistance during a January 15 donors meeting in
Beirut. Without help. he explained, UNRWA will exhaust its
funding by March 2010 and be forced to cut staff, programs
and other budget items. Although Lombardo acknowledged the
overwhelming donor fatigue, he underscored that his staff had
recently noted an uptick in frustration in the Palestinian
refugee camps that could lead to riots or other disturbances
if the status quo weren't improved, let alone if existing
UNRWA programs were cut.
PROVIDING SERVICES TO PREVENT EXTREMISM
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3. (SBU) The new Lebanese government has yet to define a
clear strategy on Palestinian issues, Lombardo assessed, but
he added that the government in general, and the director
general of antiquities in particular, have been more
responsive to UNRWA requests recently and have declared their
desire to cooperate fully with UNRWA initiatives. UNRWA is
focusing on job creation schemes as the key to preventing
unrest, Lombardo said. A representative of the Lebanese
Palestinian Dialog Committee voiced his support for USAID's
intention to consider activities in the area adjacent to the
Nahr al-Barid Camp. He also reacted positively to a
presentation update on the U.S. (State INL) project to
establish an Internal Security Forces presence in the Nahr
al-Barid area with the support of training and construction
of police posts.
4. (SBU) Turning to ongoing UNRWA programs, Lombardo outlined
the status of UNRWA's partnership with more than 35
health-care providers to offer health care to refugees in the
coming year, and he asked for renewed donor support to
maintain it beyond 2010. The UNRWA director of medical
services suggested that the program should be expanded to
encompass mental health and psychological counseling
programs, especially for disenfranchised youth. In addition,
Lombardo described recent after-school initiatives designed
to provide greater recreational opportunities for youth in
the camps, and the Committee for Employment of Palestinian
Refugees in Lebanon (CEP) submitted its final report for
2009.
5. (C) Comment: All indicators point to increased tension
inside the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. The
Lebanese Armed Forces have reportedly been increasing their
presence around some of the more volatile camps, particularly
the Beddawi camp next to Tripoli. A significant curtailment
of UNRWA's services -- which are often the only public
services available to Palestinian refugees -- would likely
only aggravate the security situation in the camps.
SISON