BEIRUT:
Details of how the shutdown of Higher Relief Committee’s services will affect
displaced Syrians emerged Friday in the latest report from U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees.
The
HRC announced the shutdown of most of its Syrian refugee-related operations
Tuesday due to a lack of funding. The body stopped covering the cost of
secondary health care and limited other types of aid distribution such as food.
As
the number of refugees in the country continues to rise to what many estimate
is above 60,000, the impact of the cutoff could be significant.
“This
will have a severe impact on UNHCR and partner agencies,” the report read.
“While
agencies will continue to shoulder most of the costs of humanitarian
assistance, current funding levels do not permit these agencies from filling in
for all coverage previously provided by the HRC.
“UNHCR
is actively advocating for additional funding sources for the HRC in order to
fill this urgent gap,” the report said.
Local
aid workers in north Lebanon have said the impact of a cutoff of aid could be
significant.
However,
some have questioned whether the HRC is putting enough effort into continuing
their operations.
Social
Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour claimed operations were being suspended in
order to fix the aid distribution system to stop it being taken advantage of by
patients.
The
UNHCR report also said that 800 refugees recently arrived in the northern Bekaa
this week.
It
added that around 900 refugee families are currently living in the dangerous
border region between Lebanon and Syria.
Some
have been caught in recent cross-border fighting between the Syrian Army and
Lebanon-based armed groups, the report said.
The
fighting last week killed two people, wounded 10 and severely raised tensions
in the border area.
Eighteen
Syrians were admitted to Lebanese hospitals over the past week.
UNHCR is aiding around 30,000
refugees in the country of which 28,477 are registered with the aid body.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jul-14/180553-aid-cutoff-will-severly-impact-refugee-operations-unhcr.ashx#axzz20V2YWRw4
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