The Daily Star - U.N. refugee agency halts aid work in Tripoli, May 19 2012

BEIRUT: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees halted Syrian refugee registration and aid operations in Tripoli due to this week’s armed clashes, according to the UNHCR’s latest report.

“The security situation in Tripoli forced the temporary suspension of distribution of food and core-relief items,” the report reads.

The report said home visits, community awareness sessions and case management services were interrupted due to the fighting. There were no reports of refugees injured during the fighting, the report said.

Food aid to Akkar was also halted at the request of the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee, the report said. The UNHCR report said HRC asked for the halt to assess food distribution in the area and that distribution will resume next week.

The official aid body said they are providing aid to 26,000 refugees in the country, the same number of aided refugees as last week. The body continues to work in the north and east of the country to distribute aid.

There were 12 wounded Syrians admitted to hospitals this week, according to the report. Twenty-five unfinished houses were also identified by UNHCR as potential residences for refugees. Housing remains one of the biggest areas of need for the large refugee population.

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