The Daily Star
BEIRUT: An umbrella association of organizations that serve the Lebanon’s disabled community voiced anger Tuesday over a substantial cut in government funding, which it warns will mean fewer services and may force some organizations to close.
During a news conference Tuesday, more than 40 nongovernmental organizations lashed out at the caretaker government and called on the Social Affairs Ministry to review its role in fulfilling the rights of the disabled.
Dr. Moussa Charafeddine, head of the National Association of Parents and Institutions for the Disabled, called on President Michel Sleiman to listen to the organizations, which work on behalf of more than 20,000 disabled Lebanese.
“Today we write to the republic’s President Michel Sleiman to discuss an important national cause [the needs of the disabled], which is one of the primary issues in society and is currently facing challenges that are a threat to their future,” said Charafeddine.
Many representatives of organizations at the conference told The Daily Star that the reduction in government funding will ultimately force them to scale back their services or even close their doors.
Earlier this month, the Social Affairs Ministry approved the 2011 budget for the association with 16.4 percent cuts from last year, which Charafeddine blamed on a mistake by the ministry.
“As a result of false information sent from the Social Affairs Ministry, the Auditing Department decided to cut the funds by 16.4 percent.”
Charafeddine also pointed to a meeting between the association and caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Salim Sayegh, during which the association asked Sayegh to correct the cost appraisal sent to the Auditing Department so that the funding cut could be reversed.
Charafeddine said that although Sayegh sent a request to the Auditing Department, he issued the ministerial decision without waiting for a response from the Auditing Department.
Seven days after their meeting, the ministry distributed the 2011 funds to the NGOs with the cuts intact.
“We were surprised on May 17 when the ministry scrapped part of the annual fund … without waiting for the review decision from the Auditing Department,” the statement read by Charafeddine added.
Many officials told The Daily Star that increased inflation in recent years has created an extra burden as the NGOs must cover one third of their costs.
“The ministry covers only two-thirds of the costs, which was formulated in 2004, and there hasn’t been a cost appraisal by the ministry since then,” Charafeddine added.
But a Ministry of Social Affairs source said that this year’s budget was calculated based on the cost appraisal from the NGOs, so any accusations against the ministry are “useless.”
“There are two reasons behind the general delay in funds for these NGOs: routine bureaucratic procedures and lag at the Finance Ministry [responsible for the Auditing Department,]” the source added.
The source also said that Sayegh has called for a meeting Thursday to discuss the matter with the NGOs.
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