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The Sustainable Development Goals in Lebanon
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Lebanon:
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16 October 2021
UN Country Team’s retreat explores how to Build Forward Better Lebanon
“Dream, Love, Inspire” that’s how the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi kicked-off a two-day retreat for the UN Country Team in Lebanon that took place on 4 and 5 October 2021 in the heart of nature, in rural Beit Mery. “‘Dream’ for a better Lebanon... ‘Love’ for the love and dedication we owe to the people of Lebanon and to our common agenda… ‘Inspire’ for the inspiration we desperately need to continue to serve the people of Lebanon amid these unprecedented challenging times,” Ms. Rochdi explained.
Two years on from the COVID19 Pandemic, the popular protests and the devastating Beirut port explosions, the UN Country Team in Lebanon under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, joined a ‘One UN’ retreat to share visions for a better Lebanon and help decide the next chapter of the Organization amid the country’s mounting challenges and inherent risks.
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka welcomed the UNCT members and the concerted efforts to build a common UN vision on how best to support the Lebanese people and work towards a prosperous Lebanon. “If we are to have a positive influence on developments, the UN needs to respond to the Lebanese reality as a whole. To maximize our impact, we need to work concertedly. Our political, peacekeeping, development and humanitarian efforts must go hand in hand,” Ms. Wronecka said.
Over 25 Heads of UN Agencies operating in Lebanon engaged in a vigorous debate, sharing their thoughts, knowledge, and good practices to help shape the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) that will guide the work of the UN in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The group works were the essence of the retreat’s interdependent sessions, tackling important socio-economic, political and environmental priorities in Lebanon. These joint exercises proved to be a catalyst for inter-agency harmony and synergy in identifying multi-dimensional risks, triggers and prevention and mitigation measures to address Lebanon’s challenges and overcome obstacles that would jeopardize the work of the UN. “I came, thinking we would have two days of formal exchanges and dry lengthy statements. I left with a sense of purpose, expectations, energy, and the feeling that I was part of a team,” said Zarak Jan, Co-Chair of the joint UN Programme Management Team.
The sessions also provided a good opportunity to get everyone around the table and re-consider the current way of doing business to help Lebanon surmount its formidable problems. “Business as usual is no longer an option for the UN in Lebanon. That’s why we commit to working together to turn Lebanon’s crises into opportunities and ‘Build Forward Better’ through actionable, accountable and effective programs that serve first and foremost the interests of the people,” explained Ms. Rochdi in one of the sessions.
Partnerships are central to Lebanon’s recovery and this was also discussed in the retreat in the presence of representatives from the European Union, World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and Civil Society in Lebanon, who committed through concrete actions to optimize the way different entities work together to ensure they deliver the greatest value for the people of Lebanon.
For participants, the retreat created comradery and helped promote friendly interactions and networking among different UN heads of agencies away from the usual office setting. “The retreat provided an excellent space to see colleagues again and have the space to brainstorm how the UN can best support Lebanon in its recovery,” said UN Women Director in Lebanon, Rachel Dore-Weeks. “It reminded us all of the power and importance of face-to-face discussions, and the need to work together across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus in Lebanon”, she added.
The two-day retreat concluded with an interactive wrap-up of the main UNCT retreat’s outcomes and culminated in a group dance on “Jerusalema” song. A group photo was taken in memory of this year’s UNCT retreat and a short video was created for this occasion.
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10 August 2021
One Year after the Devastating Beirut Port Explosion: How did the UN observe the tragic 4th of August Day?
The 4th of August has become an ominous day that will dwell forever in the memory of every Lebanese. On this fateful day, 214 people lost their lives, over 6,000 were injured and thousands found themselves without any shelter, their lives and livelihoods completely shattered. The damage was colossal on many fronts, caused by the unsafe storage of an enormous quantity of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut for many years.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of this tragic day, the United Nations staff in Lebanon has united in grief to mourn the victims of this horrendous tragedy, and express their solidarity with their families and the injured and with the people of Lebanon at large who are bearing the brunt of the country’s socio-economic, financial and political crises.
A minute of silence was observed at the Port of Beirut where the massive explosions erupted, in the presence of UN officials, ambassadors and the diplomatic corps in Lebanon.
“Let us take this moment of silence to honor the memory of the victims of this terrible explosion, to show our solidarity with their families and all the Lebanese people,” UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said before the minute of silence was observed at the Port.
“A Minute of Silence will never console the pain of families of the victims of the Beirut Blast,” tweeted the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi on this solemn occasion. “Today we reflect on the suffering and sorrow of those who lost their loved ones in this dreadful tragedy, of the survivors and people of Lebanon and reiterate our call for a swift and impartial investigation,” she added.
UN Staff Members recall and react
Concurrently, other UN staff members observed one minute of silence in their respective UN offices to pay tribute to the victims and show their solidarity with their bereaved families and with their UN colleagues who lost their loved ones.
“August 4 has been marked in every single Lebanese person. For me, time stopped there,” said Danielle Inaty, UNV National Specialist working with WHO office in Lebanon. “It has been a year already! Yet, I still live this tragic event over and over again.”
Inaty observed a minute in silence with her colleagues in WHO office in Beirut and added with tears running down her cheeks: “scars may have healed, but we will forever remember this sad day. May the soul of the victims rest in eternal peace”.
UN staff were equally hit by this fatal explosion. They lost family members, relatives, friends and saw their houses falling into debris.
Rana Dash, a Lebanese programme assistant working for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Lebanon, still remembers vividly what happened on that day. The minute she felt the shockwaves of the explosion from her house in Ashrafieh, Rana knew that people would need her help, so she sprang into immediate action.
“I heard a huge explosion, followed by a tide of screaming and shattering glass. I grabbed my first aid kit and drove my damaged car to Gemmayzeh to help. My tires crunched on broken glass. It was the first time that I see so much blood in my entire life... People turned to prayers amid the tragedy, and my only concern back then was to stop people’s bleeding and save their lives.”
Elie Mansour, senior engineer and head of UN-Habitat Lebanon’s Urban Planning and Design Unit, was another UN staff survivor from the Beirut blast. He was still in the office working late when the blast went off. “The building shook. I started praying. The alarm sounded, the windows blew out of the walls, and the office’s interior partitions titled. The office was in complete ruins,” Elie said recounting his most horrifying moments that day.
“Looking back, I know that my story does not compare with those of people who had their lives taken or changed forever on 4 August 2020, but for me it was a lesson that even through the hardest moments, hope should always prevail,” Elie added with a determination to stay hopeful despite all the hardships facing Lebanon.
A joint EU-UN-WB position on the commemoration of the Beirut Blast
The commemoration of the fatal explosions was also observed by the three principals of the European Union, the World Bank and the UN who are partners in the so-called “Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF)” that aims for a rapid transition towards Lebanon’s recovery with focus on governance, social protection, social cohesion, inclusion and gender, health, education, and housing.
“365 days later, the people of Lebanon are still waiting for the justice promised by the country’s decision makers… 365 days later, the investigation continues to stall, without a truly independent judiciary able to block political intervention… 365 days later, we reiterate our call for an effective, independent and transparent investigation that can bring justice for the victims and peace for their families,” wrote Rochdi along with Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, Ralph Tarraf, and the Regional Director of the Middle East Department of the World Bank, Saroj Kumar Jha in an Op-Ed published in local media on the same day.
A year after the blast, grieving families continue to seek justice and truth for their loved ones, and the UN reiterates its call for a swift, independent and impartial investigation that guarantees justice to victims and ensures families’ right to remedy and reparation.
A Conference in Support of the People of Lebanon
Reaffirming its support for Lebanon one year after the devastating explosion, the UN co-chaired with France an international donor conference to boost aid and prevent a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Lebanon. The conference responded to a UN humanitarian appeal for $370 million in emergency aid for the coming 12 months. This new appeal aims to save lives and to address the most urgent food security, water, sanitation, health and education needs of impoverished Lebanese and migrants.
However, “humanitarian assistance cannot be a long-term solution”, read the co-chairs’ statement issued after the conference, calling first and foremost for a Government formation that implements reforms promised since the 2018 CEDRE Conference, the resumption of negotiations with IMF and the timely preparations of transparent and impartial 2022 elections.
Participants in the conference reiterated their commitment to stand alongside the Lebanese people and expressed their determination “to make use of all available instruments to provide direct support to population.” But structural economic and financial assistance require profound changes by Lebanon leaders, concluded the statement.
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26 May 2021
LOOKING BACK IN LEBANON: How the UN responded to multiple crises in the past year?
Mimi is a migrant worker from Ethiopia who came to Lebanon eight years ago looking for a better future. She found work but endured years of salary theft, no days off, and beatings from her employer. She fled her job without her personal belongings—including her passport. “I ran away from abuse thinking my life would get better,” she says. And it did get better. Mimi took on freelance work, got married to someone she loves, a Sudanese refugee, and they had kids. But then, with the advent of the pandemic, she lost her job. “Now I am undocumented with unregistered children and an unknown future.”
The UN in Lebanon was there to back her up, working with partners to provide cash assistance to 700 migrant workers and other people left behind during the pandemic. Mimi has gotten some much-needed support from the UN and partners. “Now,” she says, “I am able to see the light of my humanity and dignity again.”
As COVID-19 swept the country, prompting shutdowns and interrupting the economy, the UN and partners trained thousands of healthcare and other workers on preventive measures. Rawan Chehadeh was one of the 282 nurses who benefited from trainings implemented by UN Lebanon with the Lebanese Orders of Nurses and the Ministry of Public Health.
Also in response to the pandemic, the UN supported the establishment of community isolation sites for those unable to quarantine at home, procured 73 fully-equipped intensive-care-unit beds and 800 regular hospital beds, provided food parcels to 50,000 of the poorest Lebanese households, and is now assisting with the national vaccination program.
On 4 August 2020, a massive explosion rocked the capital city of Beirut, triggering a series of smaller explosions, killing over 200 people, injuring thousands more and flattening whole neighborhoods.
The UN in Lebanon was there to provide support, deploying expert relief response teams less than 24 hours after the explosions to assist with medical care, search and rescue operations, and assessing the health impact of the explosions.
Ten days later, a UN-coordinated appeal for financial support was launched to respond to the most urgent needs of 300,000 people affected by the explosions. By the end of 2020, the appeal had raised US $165 million.
The UN and partners helped restore water service to around 24,000 persons after the blasts, provided multi-purpose cash support to 91,552 persons, including cash for rent or shelter, and repaired or rehabilitated over 12,000 damaged homes, including that of 34-year-old Hala, who says, “Walking into our repaired home mended our broken hearts.”
The ongoing crisis in Syria has driven many thousands of people to take refuge in Lebanon, seeking work and freedom from the bombs and guns that have imperiled their lives back home.
The UN was there to provide support. In 2020, and with the support of UN partners under Lebanon’s Crisis Response Plan, vulnerable Syrians and Lebanese were provided with safe water, food and cash assistance, as well as healthcare, legal aid and life-saving sexual and gender-based violence services.
“2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for Lebanon, and the people are still feeling the shocks of it,” says Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon.
The COVID-19 pandemic. The explosions in Beirut. The long crisis in Syria driving refugees into Lebanon. These events are widely divergent in nature, but they are all reminders of how catastrophe can strike at any time and in any form, and they call for people who are ready to respond.
And these are just some of the areas where the UN responded. Indeed, the UN in Lebanon was built for such situations, and its work in 2020 is detailed in the new UN Lebanon Annual Results Report.
“Whatever we at the UN do—responding to emergencies, promoting peace and good governance, protecting human rights, reducing poverty and gender inequality—our aim is always to serve Lebanon and its people.”
Read more in the 2020 UN Lebanon Annual Results Report.
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03 August 2021
A year after the Beirut explosions: a UN Resident Coordinator blog
On August 4th, 2020, a devastating blast in a warehouse destroyed much of the centre of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Many neighbourhoods were destroyed, downtown Beirut looked like a war zone. Thousands were injured and some 200 people tragically lost their lives on that day and the days that followed. For many, their property and livelihoods were literally blown away.
“I had only been in my new position of UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon for three days when the devastating explosions ripped through Beirut Port.
The effects of those explosions are still reverberating one year later. The country is striving to find a path to emerge from a tragedy that has touched every single person.
The destructive fallout of August 4th intensified suffering in Lebanon, which was already reeling from civil unrest, economic and financial hardship, increasing poverty, and unemployment, compounded by political deadlock and a soaring number of COVID-19 cases.
A year on from this tragedy, there is deepening hardship and mounting frustration. I met with many Lebanese people who gave voice and face to the deprivation and adversity that so many are experiencing in this country.
People such as a 59-year-old homeless man called Youssef, whose dream is to have a roof above his head and a door that he can close when he sleeps and Cathy, who is 15, who has the simple desire to own a mobile phone so she can access online learning.
Or Mirna, a 50-year-old teacher who used to make her own living and provide for her family, but can now only afford one meal a day and is obliged to ask for help. She told me with tears in her eyes “They took my dignity”.
Situation ‘worsening by the day’
It is clear to me that the situation of ordinary people in Lebanon is worsening by the day. Currently, the UN estimates that more than one million Lebanese (out of a population of almost eight million, including more than two million refugees and migrants) need relief assistance to cover their basic needs, including access to food, health, education and water.
In addition, nine out of 10 refugees live in extreme poverty, an increase from 55 per cent from only a year before. Over half of the migrants in Lebanon say they were unable to meet their food needs, and the same number of migrants reported being unemployed (with the majority losing their jobs during the last quarter of 2020).
Lebanon, which not so long ago was a high middle-income country, is now facing probably the worst financial and economic crisis in its modern history; over half of its population is living in poverty. It is perhaps not surprising that many people have lost trust in their leaders and institutions.
Support for a brighter future
Despite the grim viewpoint, I believe, and so do many Lebanese, that the country has strong potential for a brighter future.
In the immediate aftermath of the explosions the United Nations and its partners reacted quickly and decisively to save lives and provide emergency assistance to those affected. $167 million was generously received for the United Nations coordinated flash appeal, one of the best funded appeals in 2020.
Support was provided to hospitals and health care centres for continuation of basic services, including in relation to COVID-19; damage to houses was assessed and emergency shelter kits distributed to ensure immediate safety and protection; water connections, including pumps and tanks, were re-established; hygiene and baby kits, in addition to in-kind food parcels, were distributed; protection services and psycho-social and mental health support services were provided; resources were allocated for debris clearance efforts.
Essential repairs were also started for hospitals, primary health care centres, schools and housing, while the humanitarian community transitioned towards multi-purpose cash assistance in support of recovery, livelihoods and local markets.
On the recovery side, the UN, along with the European Union (EU) and the World Bank, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, developed the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework. Known as 3RF, it is a people-centered programme, anchored in participation, inclusion and social justice.
It’s for the people and felt by them. It envisages a ground-breaking new way of working, which relies on partnerships, that bring together the presidency, government, parliament, civil society, private sector, and international partners, in addition to the EU, World Bank and UN to ensure the reconstruction of critical assets, services, and infrastructure for equal access to quality basic services, as well as the implementation of key reforms. Its forward-looking priorities, programmes and investments, include social inclusion and protection; housing and cultural heritage rehabilitation; municipal services and environment; and business recovery.
Already, thousands of people have received legal assistance to deal with claims arising from the explosions. Several public buildings have been retrofitted with green technologies, health facilities have received critical medical equipment. Several schools and medical facilities have been reconstructed or partially rehabilitated. In this way, Lebanon is beginning the long and arduous process of building back better.
‘Emergency assistance is not the solution’
But also, Lebanon’s recovery must coincide with reform. Emergency assistance is not the solution.
It is regretful that Lebanon’s leaders have been unable to reach agreement on the formation of a new government in the past 10 months, which has delayed urgently needed structural reforms to address the country’s numerous challenges. This is a critical moment in Lebanon’s history. The combined magnitude, depth and multi-dimensionality of the political, socio-economic and humanitarian crises facing Lebanon is unprecedented and presents an increasingly challenging landscape for the United Nations to implement its mandates.
But ultimately the responsibility for avoiding the total collapse of Lebanon lies primarily in the hands of its leaders. UN stands by Lebanon Unfortunately, a year on from my arrival in Lebanon and the explosions which rocked Beirut shortly thereafter, the situation continues to deteriorate. The UN is developing a 12-month Emergency Response Plan that articulates collective priority responses to the critical humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable Lebanese and migrants affected by the situation; it complements the support already provided to refugees and host communities. This is not a solution. It aims at linking with and preparing the transition towards solutions to address the root causes of the crisis, which will only come from structural reforms and Government-led comprehensive and sustainable development interventions, including the implementation of a full-fledged comprehensive and inclusive Government-led social protection strategy. I have been inspired by the spirit, solidarity, and courage of the young Lebanese people. The UN will continue to stand by Lebanon as it continues on the path to recovery and ultimately fulfilling its potential. That said, the greatest capital is the human capital and Lebanon can count on its women and men. Those who pledged not to leave the country despite the situation, those who use their creativity, their entrepreneurship and their commitment to build a better Lebanon. Those are the best hope for Lebanon”. This story was produced and published by the UN News
It is regretful that Lebanon’s leaders have been unable to reach agreement on the formation of a new government in the past 10 months, which has delayed urgently needed structural reforms to address the country’s numerous challenges. This is a critical moment in Lebanon’s history. The combined magnitude, depth and multi-dimensionality of the political, socio-economic and humanitarian crises facing Lebanon is unprecedented and presents an increasingly challenging landscape for the United Nations to implement its mandates.
But ultimately the responsibility for avoiding the total collapse of Lebanon lies primarily in the hands of its leaders. UN stands by Lebanon Unfortunately, a year on from my arrival in Lebanon and the explosions which rocked Beirut shortly thereafter, the situation continues to deteriorate. The UN is developing a 12-month Emergency Response Plan that articulates collective priority responses to the critical humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable Lebanese and migrants affected by the situation; it complements the support already provided to refugees and host communities. This is not a solution. It aims at linking with and preparing the transition towards solutions to address the root causes of the crisis, which will only come from structural reforms and Government-led comprehensive and sustainable development interventions, including the implementation of a full-fledged comprehensive and inclusive Government-led social protection strategy. I have been inspired by the spirit, solidarity, and courage of the young Lebanese people. The UN will continue to stand by Lebanon as it continues on the path to recovery and ultimately fulfilling its potential. That said, the greatest capital is the human capital and Lebanon can count on its women and men. Those who pledged not to leave the country despite the situation, those who use their creativity, their entrepreneurship and their commitment to build a better Lebanon. Those are the best hope for Lebanon”. This story was produced and published by the UN News
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24 May 2021
UN Lebanon kicks off Vaccination Program for Staff and Dependents
“Vaccines are here! Hoping to get back to the things we love soon,” said most staff members, cheerfully while waiting for their turn at a Beirut hospital where the UN COVID-19 Vaccination Program kicked off on May 15.
In order not to disrupt the National COVID-19 Vaccination program that is underway and managed by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the 1st jab was administered to staff members and their dependents over two consecutive weekends in May. This UN vaccination program is managed by the National Vaccination UN Coordinator, in coordination with the Global Vaccination Deployment Team, Lebanese Ministry of Public Helath (MoPH) and WHO Country Office in Lebanon.
UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi said the UN vaccination program, which has been closely and successfully coordinated with MoPH, allowed thousands of staff members and their eligible dependents access to the COVID-19 vaccine at a time when the country is facing one of its worst socio-economic crises. “This helps reduce the burden on the government and ensure that more people get vaccinated to help flatten the curve on the virus and get back soon to the things and the people we love,” Rochdi said. “Our hope is that everyone in Lebanon, including migrants and refugees, get vaccinated,” she added.
Present on site was the UN Joint Medical Service led by Medical Doctor Josette Sfeir and her team of nurses who worked relentlessly to ensure a successful process, coordinating efficiently between staff and the hospital personnel.
“Today we reached an important milestone in our fight against COVID19. We committed to our staff’s health, safety and well-being and kept our promise by offering them easy access to the vaccine. It is only by protecting them that we can go back to normal and continue our joint mission to serve others,” said Dr. Sfeir.
“The process was extremely easy and smooth. I’m grateful for the UN’s support and for offering us the vaccine. Today, I feel relieved and protected,” said Afif Barakat, security officer at ESCWA.
“Like most staff members, I was thrilled to learn about the UN vaccination program in Lebanon. I’ve been working round the clock with all WHO staff to respond to the COVID-19 crisis since the very start of the pandemic, and I had seen what this virus can do to people. We all felt scared from this deadly disease and wanted to be protected,” said Hala Habib, communication officer with WHO Lebanon.
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14 April 2022
UNIC and AUB hold a two-day panel discussion on the work of NGOs and UN in Lebanon
In collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut), the Center of Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) organized its annual NGO Forum under the title “NGOs as Frontliners: Challenges and Opportunities.”
This year’s event, which hosted four panels over the 12th and 13th of April, allowed Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies in Lebanon to speak about pressing social issues such as women empowerment, social justice, refugees in protracted crisis, mental health, and education. The event, which was held at the Basile Antoine Meguerdiche Conference Hall (IFI Auditorium) at the Issam Fares Institute at AUB, offered the university students the chance to listen to primary community actors and engage with their projects and initiatives.
The panels involved experts from various UN agencies who spoke about topics relevant to their mission and area of expertise. On the first day, Joumana Zabaneh, UN Women Program Management Specialist participated in the panel entitled “Women Empowerment and Social justice”. In her intervention, Zabaneh unpacked the various layers of discrimination and injustice that women in Lebanon incur as a result of outdated social values and laws. She also focused on the topic of “unpaid care” which she presented as a major challenge for women in modern life because her normalized role persists to be centered around care providing.
In a panel entitled “Refugees in Protracted crisis”, Carol El Sayed, Community Based Protection Officer at UNHCR presented some important figures about the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. El Sayed also highlighted UNHCR’s approach to refugees as “partners as much as government and academia are partners because they have their own agency and they can contribute to solutions and preventions.” In her talk, El Sayed emphasized that despite the devastating life conditions of refugees in Lebanon, UNHCR is also aware of the needs of the host community and Lebanese family who are also in need for aid and support.
On mental health, Danielle Inaty, UN Volunteer Programme Assistant, presented the work of WHO on supporting mental health in Lebanon in collaboration with local organizations and highlighted the available resources for learning about this topic. Inaty emphasized that the need for mental health support in the country has been increasing in light of the deteriorating political and economic situation and the aftermath of the 4th of August explosion, which have compromised the well-being of Lebanese population and particularly the youth.
In the panel on education, Marco Pasqualini, UNESCO Education Specialist, presented “transformative education” as a key approach that transforms life by helping young people actively contribute to making the world a better world and to sustainability. “Transformative education, which contributes to fulfilling global goals and establishing education 2030, requires training teachers to be transformative themselves by using alternative teaching methods,” he added.
UNIC Beirut Director Margo Helou commended the efforts of AUB to inform youth and engage them in discussions on pressing issues facing the country. She highlighted the importance of implementing the SDGs as a means to overcome these issues on the long term.
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11 April 2022
Lebanon: War in Ukraine means price rises amid climate crisis
A tangle of muddy roads lead to Rana’s farm, which is nestled between the snow-topped peaks of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
Perhaps they are a metaphor for the various factors the World Food Programme (WFP) is warning are driving up food and fuel prices across the Middle East and North Africa: climate change, conflict, the coronavirus pandemic, and rising costs.
Since she was a child, Rana has got up at 5 a.m. to make a living out of what she loves most: being busy on her parents’ farm.
“I am a farmer at heart,” says the former nurse. “I feel an itch whenever I stay between four walls for too long.”
Yet, as Ramadan begins, Rana herself is one of the millions of Lebanese who are weathering a crumbling economy and skyrocketing costs.
The war in Ukraine is impacting fuel and food prices. Import-dependent Lebanon gets 80 percent of its wheat from Ukraine – which together with Russia supplies 30 percent of the grain worldwide.
Last year, the cost of a food basket – the minimum food needs per family per month – reported an annual increase of 351 percent in Lebanon, followed by Syria at 97 percent, and Yemen’s 81 percent.
Sadly, wheat shipments to Lebanon are forced to arrive on smaller ships, after the devastating Beirut blast in 2020 destroyed the country’s largest grain storage silos.
Meanwhile, farmers like Rana are on the front line of climate change, as prolonged dry spells wreak havoc with their fields.
“I thought last summer would never end,” says Rana. She had to sell almost half of her sheep and cows, in order to look after the remaining ones, after prices for fodder were so high.
“I also had to get rid of most of my vegetable yield last year because of a bug infestation,” she adds. When it doesn’t rain it’s “heaven for these little critters”. This summer she expects more and more of her crops will “fall victim to climate change”.
She adds: “You don’t need a weather app to tell you something is not right. You literally feel it on your skin.”
Heat and humidity make the work of agricultural labourers even more demanding, while irregular climate patterns force Rana to cultivate crops either earlier or later than usual to avoid the financial devastation of a poor harvest.
Wildfires are hitting Lebanon left, right and centre, burning swathes of forests and forcing many to flee their homes. Since 2017, WFP in Lebanon has been on the front line of the response to the country’s climate crisis. We have planted over 1.1 million seedlings and preserved more than 502 hectares of forests from fires.
Working with the American University of Beirut, WFP is currently implementing a pilot project that is strengthening the adaptive abilities of rural communities through supporting smallholder farmers in areas including Akkar, Bekaa, Baalbeck, and Hasbaya.
It is building the capacities of farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change, through business development, marketing skills and livestock management.
WFP is currently looking at replicating this work and similar livelihoods projects. However, a lack of funding hinders our full support to vulnerable people – including farmers – as they approach the brink. Funding is crucial to build on successes and support more people in need.
Rana’s greenhouse used to be filled with different kinds of vegetables. The climate crisis is forcing her to opt for crops that are resilient to water shortages – planting aromatic herbs like mint and rosemary instead of the usual, and more lucrative, tomatoes, green peppers, and zucchini.
“What I’ve learned in this project is eye-opening. I’m producing cost-friendly, organic fertilizers out of things I’m accustomed to throwing out,” says Rana, adding that this has allowed her to use the money she has saved to compensate for some of her losses.
So instead of buying fertilizers, she is making them out of things she’s accustomed to throwing out.
As prices continue to rise during Ramadan, Rana expects that more families will have little to eat when they break their fast.
WFP remains at the forefront of the humanitarian response to Lebanon’s crises, currently assisting one in every three people across a country that is now reeling under the impact of local and global crises.
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05 April 2022
The living of "Al-Karantina"
The devastating Beirut Port explosions caused major traumas across all social groups. This was even more present in the Karantina area, where the explosion also uncovered old traumas, reviving stories of mass deaths from the 1975 to 1990 civil war area, and the compounded crisis.
A safe and inclusive platform for people of Karantina has been provided through playback performances, documentation, and work on memorialization to heal the wounds of the explosions and foster social cohesion among Karantina’s different groups. The process was sought to be a recovery journey that focuses on the physiological support for the people of Karantina, including all nationalities, ethnicities, religions, and age groups.
More than 547 people were targeted by the playback theater performances, 254 youth were involved in the drama performance sessions, and 71 children were engaged in expressive arts sessions.
“It was a chance for a person to speak out his pain. This isn’t our first pain; we’ve seen that before and it had affected us too. We felt that there’s someone who cares about us and is trying his best to understand whatever it is we felt,” said Feryal El Hussein, who actively joined the different sessions.
The residents’ stories were collected and transformed into a book and a memory box “The Living of Al Karantina”. This initiative attempts to document and archive the oral history of the area from the Lebanese Civil War to the Beirut Port explosions, stemming from the principles of witnessing and historiography—the two pillars of the peacebuilding process.
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04 April 2022
Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Public Health Central Drug Warehouse at Karantina Area
The Ministry of Public Health Central Drug Warehouse (MoPH-CDW) at Karantina is the major warehouse facility handling the reception, storage, and distribution of MoPH acute and catastrophic medications and vaccines, with a distribution network of more than 1,000 centers servicing more than one-half the population that are uninsured and eligible for the MoPH programs in addition to displaced Syrians.
Following the Beirut Port explosions, the UN took the lead in the rehabilitation and improvement of the deteriorated MoPH-CDW under the World Health Organization's standards. The support led to an increase in storage capacity from 3000 m3 to 8000 m3 through two-level warehouses. These improvements will lead to better supply, storage, and dispensing mechanisms with fewer interruptions in stocks.
The UN also helped establish nine cold rooms and two refrigeration rooms. The provided support led to an environment-friendly, innovative, and sustainable solar panel system serving as an emergency source of electricity. This system, its inverters, and batteries complement EDL and fuel-generated electricity.
Strengthening the MoPH pharmaceutical supply system, upgrading the storage facilities, and implementing an updated logistic management software of MoPH will ensure access to medications, vaccines, and supplies for more than 2,000,000 patients and beneficiaries.
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04 April 2022
Bringing vibrant life to schools in Beirut one brushstroke at a time
Children draw their brushes and get ready to add color to a big white wall in the playground. Colors, paint jars, pencils and drawings cover the ground. Children’s voices burst forth with joy; and Marie-Joe Ayoub, a young artist/painter, tries to channel the group’s overflowing energy to complete the mural that is starting to take shape.
This activity marks the completion of the rehabilitation work carried out by UNESCO and UN-Habitat in the two schools after the Port explosion on August 4th, 2020, with the support of Education Cannot Wait, which has helped rebuild 40 damaged schools within the framework of UNESCO’s flagship initiative “Li Beirut”.
"This mural helps children feel that they have a role to play in the beautification of their school after the Port explosion”, explains Marie-Joe Ayoub.
“This allows them to leave their mark in their school. Now, they are a part of it. Today, we need a new active generation to take the initiative. Art is crucial to help children express themselves. It increases their concentration, focus, patience, and serenity, especially amid the pandemic. Children want to get together to work and interact with each other”.
To carry out this project, Marie Joe Ayoub has organized brainstorming sessions with the students to teach them about murals.
“It is important for them to know that there are jobs out there that need artists and illustrators”, says Marie-Joe. “We started with the history of murals, from caves to American graffiti. More importantly, we talked about why we draw. Murals often carry a message, and I opted for a message centered on education for health and well-being," she added. The children – of different ages – interpreted the theme in their own way, drawing sketches that inspire them, then reproducing them on the large wall, which now sports big words like "Peace" and "Freedom”.
“I am drawing food”, says Hani, a child, while decorating the wall in his school. “Food helps our bodies grow. I also drew bad things like cigarettes and candy, to compare”. On her side, Sally is adding the final touches to the wings of a large butterfly. "It symbolizes freedom, and it's colorful", she says. “Just like my school! Years from now, I'll be happy to return to my school and see my drawing, my mark, engraved on the wall..."
Li Beirut is an international flagship initiative launched from Beirut by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, in the aftermath of the explosions, on August 27, 2020, to support the rehabilitation of schools, historic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and the creative industry, all of which suffered significant damage in the deadly explosions.
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Press Release
20 May 2022
WHO and Italian Embassy Sign Agreement to Strengthen Hospital Care
“This generous fund is a continuation of the Italian government’s support to the health system in Lebanon. As always we remain true to our motto that health should be available for all. And I like to add that no one should be left behind,” said Dr. Iman Shankiti.
This project is implemented by WHO in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Lebanon in line with the Ministry’s priorities.
Nicoletta Bombardiere, Ambassador of Italy in Lebanon, said: “The goal of the Italian Cooperation is to contribute to global health by promoting universal health coverage, equity and access to health for all. Strengthening the public health system and improving quality health services are key examples of our strategy in this sector in Lebanon.”
Alessandra Piermattei, Director of AICS Beirut, said: “For the Italian Cooperation, health is an essential aspect of the social and economic development of the population. For this reason, we consider access to medicine and health care very important in the current difficult context in Lebanon.”
The government of Italy has always been at the forefront of supporting the Lebanese people by providing generous contributions for to the strengthening of the health system, both in terms of governance as well as infrastructure, and in terms of improving the quality of care, especially in emergency care.
Furthermore, the Government of Italy provided an emergency donation of pediatric cancer medications, with a value of 500,000 euros, that were delivered to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health through the World Health Organization.
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For further information, please contact
WHO Lebanon, Hala Habib, WHO communication officer, hhabib@who.int, +961 3 870 459
Embassy of Italy Beirut - Press Office
Tel +961 (05) 954955 , Fax+961 (05) 959616 , Press.Beirut@esteri.it
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Press Release
18 May 2022
Honoring International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) in Lebanon
While all communities in Lebanon are affected by compounded crises currently facing the country, LGBTIQ+ persons face specific and acute vulnerabilities due to historic and systemic discrimination and marginalization. Despite immense challenges, LGBTIQ+ communities and activists continue to be at the forefront of reclaiming their human rights- as they have been for decades - and have collaborated with international and national partners to address these issues by providing emergency humanitarian assistance and critical social and protection services, while also demanding equal rights from those in government. They continue to facilitate political action and participation, to engage with public opinion and policies through advocacy and social campaigns, to document human rights violations, and to expand knowledge on social justice issues. A LGBTIQ+ task force has been established in Lebanon in 2021, bringing several member states, UN agencies, and national and international organizations together for united actions.
As enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations’ global commitment to leaving no one behind,
We will continue to ensure that our interventions and services are inclusive of all persons and do not discriminate on the basis of a persons’ sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC).
We stand ready to assist the government and all stakeholders in the collective effort to promote the rights of LGBTIQ+ communities.
We affirm that inequalities and violations against LGBTIQ+ persons remain human rights issues that demand our attention and action, with the mobilization of all the necessary resources;
We pledge to maintain or increase resources and support to LGBTIQ+ causes, with specific focus to Lebanese LGBTIQ+ organizations, who remain best placed to identify and respond to the communities’ own needs and priorities;
And in this critical time for Lebanon, we commit to deploy efforts to improve the rights and well-being of LGBTIQ+ people.
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Press Release
20 May 2022
Lebanon Financing Facility Supports Beirut’s Environmental Recovery Efforts and Solid Waste Management
The Beirut Critical Environment Recovery, Restoration and Waste Management Program, signed today between the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the presence of HE Minister of Environment Nasser Yassine, is financed by the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF), a multi-donor trust fund established in December 2020 following the launch of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) to pool grant resources and coordinate financing in support of the immediate socio-economic recovery of vulnerable people and businesses impacted by the Port of Beirut explosion on August 4, 2020.
According to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment prepared in response to the explosion, physical damages to the environment sector were assessed at US$20 to 25 million and recovery and reconstruction needs were estimated at US$75 to 100 million. The explosion caused severe environmental impacts from resulting huge quantities of waste streams, including hazardous and electronic waste and debris. It also caused significant damage to municipal solid waste management infrastructure; pollution of the marine ecosystem around the explosion site; loss of green cover/vegetation in Beirut City; and short term increase in dust levels (particulate matter) containing asbestos, during demolition, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of damaged buildings. The presence of hazardous waste material in various waste streams poses a direct and immediate threat to the population and the environment in Beirut.
“We are launching today the fourth LFF financed project, after three other projects that address the recovery needs of micro- and small-enterprises, the social recovery needs of affected population groups and housing reconstruction and rehabilitation of cultural and creative industries in damaged neighborhoods in the city,” said Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Mashreq Regional Director. “This project will implement environment recovery activities in the city of Beirut to mitigate risks of a solid waste crisis and other environmental impacts which resulted from the Port of Beirut explosion. The project will also strengthen the basis for environmental governance in Lebanon more broadly.”
The Beirut Critical Environment Recovery, Restoration and Waste Management Program will help manage and dispose of asbestos-contaminated demolition waste generated from the damaged buildings, rehabilitate damaged solid waste infrastructure and provide technical assistance for their sustainable operation. The project will rehabilitate two damaged solid waste treatment facilities – the Karantina solid waste sorting facility and Coral composting facility. It will also support the improvement of the overall waste management system in Beirut through the implementation of demonstration pilots on integrated solid wate management, including the sorting, collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste, in selected areas impacted by the explosion. Local communities will be engaged in the selection of these pilots, the design of treatement approaches and the evaluation of their performance.
Building on its technical expertise in the environmental and waste management sector, strong local presence, and environment project implementation experience, the project will be implemented by UNDP, in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment as well as relevant ministries and other stakehodlers.
"Addressing the impacts of the port explosion on the environment and people's health is of the utmost importance," said Melanie Hauenstein, UNDP Resident Representative. "The needs in this sector are growing more and more urgent every day, especially on solid waste management and other environmental issues. Our partnership with the World Bank ensures timely action for a sustainable environmental recovery for all of Beirut and beyond. Our approach puts the people of Lebanon at the center, to mitigate the impact of waste, pollution and environmental changes on people's health and well-being."
The project will adopt the principles of “Build Back Better, Greener, and Smarter” as identified in the 3RF and will employ elements of fit for purpose, right siting, climate change adaptation, climate smart practices, and greening of project investments. This will be done through the development of a strategic framework for greening Beirut’s reconstruction based on a consultative approach with stakeholders and technical assistance and laboratory analysis for adopting an evidence-based methodology for future environmental action.
The project will also prioritize citizen engagement activities through meaningful consultation and feedback mechanisms, participatory mechanisms, citizen-led mechanisms, and the potential for creation of green jobs, given that the waste sector is labor intensive. A Grievance Redress Mechanism will be set up to help close the feedback loop on citizens' concerns and questions about project activities and ensure transparency.
About the Lebanon Financing Facility (LFF)
Established in December 2020 in the aftermath of the August 4 Port of Beirut explosion disaster and following the launch of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF), the LFF is a 5 year multi-donor trust fund that will pool grant resources and strengthen the coherence and coordination of financing in support of the immediate socio-economic recovery of vulnerable people and businesses impacted by the explosion. To date, the LFF has received contributions and pledges from the governments of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, and Norway and from the EU. Subject to the commitment of all Lebanese stakeholders to critical reforms, the LFF will build the foundation for medium-term recovery and the sustainable reconstruction of the Port of Beirut and affected neighborhoods. The LFF prioritizes three focus areas of interventions: 1) Socioeconomic and business recovery; 2) Preparing for reform and reconstruction; and 3) Strengthening coordination, monitoring, accountability and oversight of the 3RF. The LFF will benefit from the World Bank’s high fiduciary standards, through the application of its fiduciary framework for financial management, procurement, and environmental and social safeguards. The LLF will also ensure that programs promote gender equality and community engagement that target women, youth and vulnerable populations. Generous pledges and contributions to date from the governments of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and from the EU have totaled US$73.57 million.
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Press Release
17 May 2022
UN Special Coordinator Congratulates Lebanon on Conduct of Elections, Looks Forward to Active Role of the New Parliament and Swift Formation of a Government
“I was pleased to see that the Lebanese authorities delivered parliamentary elections within the constitutional timeline. It was important for the Lebanese people to have a say in choosing the political leadership they believe can tackle the country’s challenges. The elections were a vital expression of Lebanon’s citizen engagement, which should serve to strengthen the country’s institutions,” the Special Coordinator said.
The Special Coordinator welcomed the role played by European Union, other international and local observers in the elections process and noted the preliminary statement of the EU Election Observation Mission Lebanon.
Underlining that the elections are not an end but rather a starting point, the Special Coordinator urged Lebanon’s political leaders to put the country’s interests first and engage constructively to ensure there will be no vacuum nor paralysis in much-needed institutional decision-making, in particular through the swift formation of a reform-oriented government.
To this end, the Special Coordinator noted the important role of the new Parliament in working with the government to prioritize the implementation of reforms and Lebanon’s recovery, including through a final agreement with the International Monetary Fund. “Adoption of the necessary legislation will also be critical for expediting the reform process,” she added.
The Special Coordinator stressed that Lebanon’s rescue and recovery process would remain incomplete in the absence of women’s full participation and representation. “I note that eight women have been elected to the new Parliament. I hope this can be built upon to improve women’s representation in all future national decision-making,” the Special Coordinator said. She also underlined the need for youth participation and involvement.
Noting the long-standing partnership and cooperation between the UN and Lebanon, the Special Coordinator expressed the UN’s readiness to continue supporting Lebanon through the recently adopted UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the implementation of relevant UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).
The Special Coordinator reiterated the UN’s support for Lebanon’s security, stability, prosperity, political independence and territorial integrity.
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Press Release
16 May 2022
Japan and UNOPS Continue their Support to Health Sector in Lebanon
The ceremony announced the launching of a new project to support additional governmental hospitals in Lebanon. The new project aims at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and strengthening the operational capacity of the Ministry of Public Health to provide essential and quality health services through the urgent provision of necessary equipment and sustainable energy supply to critical health facilities.
Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Dr. Firas Abiad, the Minister of Public Health of the Lebanese Republic said: “Today, we celebrate the launch of the renewable energy project in a number of governmental hospitals. Thanks to funding from Japan, this important project combines developmental and humanitarian aspects. It supports the sustainability of the facilities and enables them to continue provision of services. The generated savings will enable the hospitals to redirect the funds to support staff, purchase medicines and supplies, which will ease the burden on the patients”.
H.E. Mr. Takeshi Okubo, the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon said: “Japan is committed to the sustainability of the public health sector during these challenging times through helping medical institutions ensure uninterrupted provision of healthcare services. Japan believes that a comprehensive governmental strategy for the introduction and expansion of renewable energy is essential, and stands ready to support furthering it to alleviate the impact of the spiraling crisis on the vulnerable communities, all while advancing recovery efforts. The prolonged energy crisis has indeed brought about a major change in public awareness, and Japan hopes that this will be seen as an opportunity for the promotion of renewable energy across the country.”
Mr. Muhammad Usman Akram, UNOPS Director of Amman Multi-Country Office said: “With generous funding from the Government of Japan and partnering with the Ministry of Public Health, UNOPS has contributed to Lebanon’s critical health facilities and provided tangible benefits to the people by enhancing access to lifesaving healthcare services. I deeply appreciate the strong relationship between the Government of Japan and UNOPS at the global level and I am pleased to see it grow in Lebanon''.
The project contributed to strengthening the operational capacity of the health sector in Lebanon and enhancing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic through provision of critical equipment and access to renewable energy solutions at two governmental hospitals to ensure sustainable electricity supply and help reduce dependence on diesel generators. The project provided critical equipment for medical treatment and sterilization, furniture, and more than 33,000 medical supplies to 16 governmental hospitals across Lebanon. In addition, the solar PV systems will help share the burden of the electricity bills and the fuel consumption amid the serious shortage of the electricity in the country, generating savings around 125,000 USD per year.
The project contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 - “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
About UNOPS:
UNOPS helps the UN and its partners provide peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions. The organization’s mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. UNOPS services cover infrastructure, project management, procurement, financial management and human resources. Partners call on UNOPS to supplement their own capacities, improve speed, reduce risks, boost cost-effectiveness and increase quality.
UNOPS Operational Hub in Amman covers projects in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and implements work in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments and other UN agencies.
For Press Inquiries, please contact:
Anwar Abu Sakieneh, Communications Specialist (UNOPS)
UNOPS Multi-country Office in Amman: +962 6 5902122 or +962 7 9902 6315
AnwarAB@unops.org
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