Press Release - April 28, 2011
Press Release
Brussels/London - 28th April 2011
In London on 28th April, delegates from CEPR’s visit to the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon held a highly productive meeting with Andrew Mitchell MP, Secretary of State for International development.
Leader of the delegation, Sir Gerald Kaufman MP gave the secretary of state an overview of the visit, describing conditions in the camps as “worse than anything I’ve seen before…worse than Gaza.”
Sir Gerald outlined the problems the delegation had witnessed, particularly in Nahr el-Bared where UNRWA is struggling to make progress in rebuilding the camp, which was destroyed by the Lebanese army in 2007.
The delegates described the problems of unemployment and dependency on the United Nations they had seen at the three camps they visited.
Secretary of state Mitchell responded that the UK government is “deeply conscious of conditions” in the camps and outlined the financial role played by the UK in funding UNRWA. The secretary of state also explained that DFID is actively lobbying Arab states to increase their contribution to UNRWA to enable the organisation to fulfil its mandate.
CEPR director Dr Arafat Shoukri welcomed the meeting and the approach of the Minister: “Andrew Mitchell and his staff at DFID were keen to hear from the delegation and utilise their expertise to better understand the situation in the camps. I was able to explain, as a Palestinian, the importance of the right of return”.
Sir Gerald Kaufman MP commented: "The Secretary of State for International Development was forthcoming and positive when our delegation to the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon met him. We were encouraged by his response and shall maintain our contacts with him."
ENDS
Read More About CEPR's Parliamentary Delegation to Lebanon
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.