USAID Allocates $6 Million to Help Villages Affected by Nahr al-Bared Fighting
The U.S. embassy has launched an assistance program to help communities surrounding the northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $6 million for the program, which is aimed at alleviating the effects of battles at the camp last year, according to a statement released by the embassy on Wednesday.
U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison, USAID/Lebanon Mission Director Denise Herbol, Ambassador Kahlil Makkawi, who heads the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee and Dr. Sateh al-Aranaout, Chief Technical Advisor and Director of the Reconstruction and Recovery Cell, launched the new program at an inaugural event at the Grand Serail.
"This program will be implemented by two U.S. non-governmental organizations: the Cooperative Housing Foundation and Relief International over a period of three years," the statement said.
The program will target 21 villages identified by the Lebanese government.
"Economic opportunities through public-private partnerships will be developed and the municipalities” capacities will be enhanced so they can provide better services to their citizens.
"A revolving fund will be established for micro-finance loans to boost income generation and job creation as well as job-market-oriented vocational training for youth, women and the unemployed," the embassy said.