The UNRWA Lebanon Field Office signed a partnership with the National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training (NISCVT or Beit Atfal Assumoud) during an event held at the UNRWA office in Beirut on 16 November 2015. The partnership falls in the framework of the European Union-funded project, ‘SPRING - Improving the living conditions of Palestine refugees in Lebanon’ that aims at promoting partnerships, reforms and inclusive growth.
The partnership between UNRWA and NISCVT addresses the development and delivery of specialized community-oriented sensitization sessions relating to mental health themes and psychosocial support. It is based on the long history of NISCVT and the proficiency of its Family Guidance Centre in mental health and psychosocial support services and related awareness-raising activities targeting local communities in Palestinian camps and gatherings across Lebanon.
Over the period of eight months starting on 18 November 2015 and ending on 17 July 2016, the Family Guidance Centre’s specialized psychiatrists and psychologists (e.g. occupational, psychomotor, speech-language pathologists, etc.) will conduct sessions on a monthly basis in Palestine refugee camps across Lebanon, including Nahr el-Bared and Beddawi-North, Wavel in Beqaa, Burj Barajneh in Beirut, Ein El Hilweh in Saida, and El Buss in Tyre, that encompass the provision of counselling and guidance on psychosocial support to parents and families of children and youth with disabilities.
The NISCVT Executive Director, Qassem al-Aina, emphasized “the importance of this partnership, in order to better serve the Palestinian community in terms of raising awareness around mental health issues,” and added that “the signing of this partnership paves the way towards concerted efforts in order to enable NISCVT and UNRWA to provide complementary services inside Palestine refugee camps and gatherings in Lebanon.”
UNRWA Senior Communications Advisor Zizette Darkazally stressed, “This partnership is an important step that solidifies the commitment of UNRWA to improving the living conditions of Palestine refugees in Lebanon. We wish to thank the European Union for its generous support to the provision of specialized mental health services, both on the level of capacity-building and community sensitization. Having an experienced partner as NISCVT is key for the success of the whole needs-based initiative.”
THE EU AND UNRWA PARTNERSHIP
The European Union is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees, providing crucial and reliable support to UNRWA since 1971. Between 2007 and 2014, the European Union contributed over EUR 1 billion (US$ 1.44) in support of UNRWA, including US$ 906 million to the General Fund. In addition, the EU has generously contributed to UNRWA humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. EU Member States provide additional crucial support to the Agency. The partnership between the EU and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be better educated, live healthier lives, access employment opportunities and improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of the entire region.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, and financial support has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, deepening poverty and conflict. As a result, the UNRWA General Fund, which supports core essential services and most staffing costs, operates with a large deficit. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large deficits, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.
For more information, please contact:
Christopher Gunness
Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org
Sami Mshasha
Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org
Zizette Darkazally
Public Information Officer - Lebanon Field Office
Mobile: + 961 (0)1 840 490
Office: + 961 (0)1 840 490
z.darkazally@unrwa.org