PRESS RELEASES
U.S. Ambassador Signs Grants for NGOs Working With Palestinian
Refugees
14 September 2004
Beirut, September 14, 2004 -- U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey
Feltman today signed three grants totaling US$19,990, under the
Ambassador's Fund for Refugees in the Middle East, for NGOs working
with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
The Ambassador signed one grant for US$8,780 with the Director
of the Joint Christian Committee (JCC), Ms. Sylvia Haddad. It will
be used to refurbish the Sabra-Chatila Center located inside the
Sabra-Chatila refugee camp.
Another grant, for US$5,954, was signed with the representative
of the Palestinian Scout Association, Mr. Hassan Salem, to purchase
computer equipment for al-Beddawi center in al-Beddawi refugee camp.
A third grant, for US$5,256, was signed with the Vice-President
of Inaash, Ms. Jacqueline Inglessis. It will be used to purchase
computers and other equipment for the newly established library
in the Bourj el-Barajneh kindergarten and youth center in Bourj
el-Barajneh refugee camp.
The Ambassador's Fund for Refugees is an initiative that started
in Africa in October 2000 and was expanded to refugee-hosting countries
in the Middle East, including Lebanon, as of 2002. Its objective
is to meet gaps in on-going refugee programs that can be filled
locally for under $20,000 and are not already addressed by UNHCR,
UNRWA, other UN agencies, or NGOs. Target groups are women, children
and youth. Areas of interest are health and education.
The total contribution of the United States to the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) for this fiscal year is $127 million, including $87 million
for UNRWA's general fund operations in its five geographic fields:
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza; and $40 million
for UNRWA's emergency programs in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S.
Government remains UNRWA's single largest donor.
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