Beirut, Lebanon
Thursday, 31 January 2013
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly visited the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain El-Hilweh in south Lebanon today with Ann Dismor, Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Lebanon.

The Special Coordinator met with Palestinian refugees based in the camp and others who have taken refuge there fleeing the violence in neighboring Syria.

“I have seen the difficult conditions in Ain El-Hilweh. The plight of refugees arriving from Syria is truly distressing,” Mr. Plumbly said. “UNRWA has been helping within available resources. The needs of Palestinian refugees displaced from Syria were covered in the appeals discussed in the international donors’ conference in Kuwait yesterday. There is clearly an urgent need for more assistance,” Mr. Plumbly added.

In addition to some 53,000 registered Palestine refugees that live in the camp, it is estimated that more than 4,000 Palestine refugees from Syria are residing in the camp.

The Special Coordinator also met with leaders of the different factions in the camp represented in the security and popular committees at Ain El-Hilweh. Mr. Plumbly said he was encouraged by their efforts to maintain law and order in the camp and to create a sense of unity. He subsequently met with representatives of Palestinian women’s organizations and of a Palestinian youth group and warmly commended their efforts aimed at improving the wellbeing of the camp despite the difficult conditions.