Daily Star - The Director Of Affairs Of The Unrwa

By Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star staff

SIDON: The Director of Affairs of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Lebanon said on Tuesday his agency was in the process of “re-structuring” its top priorities in a bid to improve services its provides to Palestinian refugees. In a rare meeting, Salvatore Lombardo discussed services provided by his agency with representatives of Palestinian factions at the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. Lombardo also listened to the suggestions of various groups, which handed him a detailed report on the healthcare, education and social conditions inside refugee camps.
Lombardo said he wanted his meetings with Palestinian factions on Monday to be “frank.” He stressed he will “openly and gladly” listen to the comments and feedback on UNRWA’s performance.
Lombardo met with representatives of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the alliance of Palestinian Forces, and Islamic groups.
“We are open to all suggestions that contribute to improving our services and performance,” he said.
Several Palestinian groups, namely the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, have accused UNRWA of unfair distribution of services.
Set up in 1949 to care for Palestinians who had been forced to leave their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, UNRWA provides education, healthcare, social services and support for many of the 4.6 million registered Palestinian refugees around the world.
There are 422, 188 registered Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, as well as an unknown number registered Palestinian refugees as well as an unknown number of non-registered Palestinians who fall outside the scope of UNRWA.
In December 2009, Lombardo said UNRWA was struggling with a “dire” financial crisis but will not cut back on its services.
In the same month, UNRWA said it was facing its worst budget deficit in history. According to a recent document posted on the agency’s website concerning UNRWA’s financial situation, a shortfall of $79.6 million for 2009 and $125.7 million for 2010 has been projected. It said a continuing lack of funds since 2005 had “resulted in the complete depletion of UNRWA’s working capital.
In their report, Palestinian factions urged Lombardo to build a well-equipped hospital that would provide free of charge services to Palestinian refuges. They also asked that UNRWA raise to 85 percent the healthcare pension allotted to refugees. The report also stressed the need provide non-registered Palestinians with healthcare and medicines.
The report also asked UNRWA to increase the number of physicians and nurses working at the agency’s health centers, especially in Ain al-Hilweh, in order to “allow enough time for the examination and diagnosis” of patients.
The factions also asked UNRWA to improve the infrastructure of the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp, and to renovate some of the residences that might collapse “at any moment.”
“The aging infrastructure of the camp reflects on the mental and physical health of residents,” the report said.
The report also suggested that the camp’s surface be increased by acquiring an adjacent stretch of land in light of the camp’s ever-increasing population.
It mentioned the need to increase the number of janitors inside the camp so as to preserve the camp’s sanitary conditions.
The report urged Lombardo and other UNRWA officials to pay attention to the demands of the Palestinian refugees and “swiftly” process their claims.
Also on Monday, Lombardo signed a memorandum with Lebanon’s Public Health Minister Mohammad Jawad Kahlifeh allowing Palestinian refugees to receive treatment in 13 public hospitals.
According to the memorandum, UNRWA will transfer Palestinian patients to the accredited Lebanese public hospitals and will pay monthly dues directly to those hospitals.
The minister stressed that UNRWA should remain the “sole authority” coordinating the healthcare and social services to Palestinian refugees.
“We set the framework for the medical treatment of Palestinian refugees but we also remind about the joint responsibility of the international community and the Arab countries [in providing assistance],” Kahlifeh said.