Hope in the midts of destruction in Nahr el Bared
By Pablo Ruiz, Recovery Adviser, UNDP Lebanon

In May 2007, whilst most of Lebanon was still struggling to recover from the destruction caused by the 2006 July war, violent clashes erupted between the Lebanese Army and militants from the Fath El Islam, a Salafist group, in the Nahr el Bared Palestinian refugee camp in the north of the country. The conflict seriously affected the population in the camp and in neighboring communities. More than 30,000 Palestinians and 10,000 Lebanese were displaced to neighbouring areas of north Lebanon.

I visited the camp with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), just a few days after the violent clashes had ended. There was total destruction, not a single inhabitant. It was a ghost town, an impressively depressing one, under heavy military control. Rubble piled everywhere, burnt cars, and houses destroyed. I have never seen - and I hope I will never see again - such levels of destruction.

Several weeks after, as families started returning to the area, life came back progressively to the camp. In spite of the security restrictions, small businesses re-opened, basic services were re-established and a temporary school was re-opened. Slowly, hope was restored, within the camp and in surrounding areas.

While UNRWA focused its efforts on the camp, UNDP supported surrounding municipalities to recover from the impact of the violence. Mohamad, the owner of a small grocery store affected by the violence, directly benefited from UNDP’s support. He became more hopeful when, thanks to UNDP, electricity was restored in his shop. This enabled him to sell soft drinks and make enough money to care for his family.

Yet, the task ahead is daunting. After many months spent removing rubble, reconstruction of the most damaged area has just begun. In the meantime, UNDP is actively supporting reconciliation efforts between the Palestinian refugees and the Lebanese neighbouring communities. At national level, UNDP provides technical assistance to the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee hosted in the Prime Minister’s Office and responsible for coordinating dialogue with the various Palestinian groups and civil society in Lebanon.

At local level, UNDP facilitates cultural and sports activities to increase trust between young people. UNDP also helps communities in Nahr el Bared identify common problems and their solutions. The hope is that these steps can help strengthen the confidence and trust among affected populations in the country. CPR

Photo caption: Marwahin, Lebanon, 2007 Source: IRIN/Tugela Ridley

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> Prevention of electoral violence
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> Hope in the midts of destruction
> Making peace across borders a reality
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