The Minister of Economy and Trade H.E. Dr. Alain Al-Hakim, in collaboration with UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon Mr. Ross Mountain, visited several Lebanese Host Communities projects in Akkar. The first stop was at the Cooperative Association for Agriculture and Food Processing in Fnaydeq and the United Cooperative of Akkar in Joumeh region of Akkar, where they met with the head of municipalities and members of agricultural cooporatives.
Jord Akkar is the major fruit producing area in Akkar district, where apple is the major crop in addition to some annual crops and summer vegetables. Prior to the conflict across the border, Syria served as the main transit route for the export of fresh agricultural produce. The Syrian crisis and the consequent closure of the border had limited the demand to the local consumers and has resultantly decreased the prices of agriculture produce in this region, affecting the income of farmers and the livelihood of their families. This situation is forcing many farmers to abandon their fields and orchards. The decrease in livelihood opportunities has been further exacerbated due to the influx of refugees and is causing stress to the local socio-economic fabric.
Through this project, and with the funding of the German donation and “Lebanon Recovery Fund”(LRF), the UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs, is supporting the cooperative’s manufacturing capacity by equipping the cooperative with fruit-drying-equipment and by purchasing a vehicle to transport the products to different markets. As for the The United Cooperative in Akkar, the project is Providing a washing, grading and packaging machine, a vehicle to the cooperative for the transportation of the products to the market, establishment of a hangar in front of the facility to allow the easy access for trucks, and Enhancing the capacity of the Cooperative storage by providing 3000 boxes.
“I’m glad to be here with you today in dear Akkar, in the frame of the tour with Mr. Ross Mountain on some of the projects that are funded by the German Government through “Lebanon Recovery Fund”. Said his Excellency Hakim. “I know very well that these small contributions do not solve the major problems that this dear area of Lebanon suffers from. And I know the amount of the development projects that this region need from water, to power, sewage, Rehabilitation of schools and clinics. I assure you that we did not hesitate to work hard on all aspect with the all the donors to provide enough funding for the needed reformation, to help our people in Akkar in surviving and Securing sustainable development.”
Mr. Ross Mountain said “I am delighted to have the chance to come back to Akkar, I am very aware that this area has been deprived for many years and is now having the additional pressure of the refugees upon the population, I am glad that the Minister of Economy and Trade Dr. Alain Hakeem has taken the initiative to reinvigorate the Lebanese Recovery Fund with a particular objective of supporting Lebanese host communities. We believe that it is vital to support impoverished communities that deserve help and have not had support. It is important to try and strengthen the capacities of the communities to develop themselves.”
Mr. Hikmat Saba, The head of the United Cooperative in Akkar said “around 8000 to 9000 farmers will benefit from this project, and it will also encourage the local dealers to put their products here in the cooperative. Our main goal is for the local farmer to stay in town, to improve his connection to the ground and reduce the Displacement of farmers to the cities”.
During the tour, HE minister Hakim and Mr. Mountain visited the some houses of beneficiaries of the provision of solar lighting and briquette stoves in the area, the project that was funded by the German donation and established by the Country Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CEDRO) part of UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of energy and water. The project provided 500 stoves and 500 lighting devices via solar energy for the most needing houses in the host communities in Akkar and Beqaa and 303 Lebanese in Akkar benefited from it.
UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, so far supported 130 projects in the Host Communities with a large number of displaced Syrians compared to Lebanese. The support through “The Lebanon Host Communities Support Project aims” at supporting the activities that will lead to strengthen stability and improve the development under the “National Response Plan” (NRP) by creating job opportunities and providing the basic services. This year UNDP and Ministry of Social Affairs aims at achieving 170 new projects in Lebanese Host communities.