For immediate release, London, Thursday 10th February 2011.
The CEPR, in partnership with the Palestinian Return Centre took a delegation of seven British and European parliamentarians to Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon between the 6th and 9th February.
Led by British MP and former Minister Sir Gerald Kaufman the delegates held meetings with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Prime Minister Designate Najib Mikati and Deputy Speaker of the House Abdilatif Alzein to press them on the issue of increasing rights and improving living conditions for Palestinian refugees.
Delegates met with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Director in Lebanon Salvatore Lombardo, the European Union Delegation in Lebanon and Palestinian political factions and community organisations to assess the standard of living and basic rights of the Palestinians, visiting the Bourj al-Barajneh, Shatila and Nahr el Bared camps.
Delegates paid their respects at the memorial to the victims of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre and were able visit refugees in their homes and learn firsthand the difficulties they face. This was most stark at the Nahr el Bared camp in northern Lebanon, which was destroyed by the Lebanese army in 2007, and has seen very little progress made towards completion of the proposed rebuilding.
Michael Connarty MP stated “It has been over a decade since I last visited the camps and I am disappointed, saddened and even angered by the lack of progress in giving Palestinian refugees improved living conditions and basic human rights”.
ENDS
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Editors note: For more information contact Stuart Colley in Brussels on +32 503 5402 or +32 493 131350, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ayman Abuawwad in London on +44 (0) 2076638052 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Council for European Palestinian Relations is an independent non-profit organisation registered in Brussels and committed to a just peace in Palestine and a restoration of Palestinian rights.