LEBANON: UNRWA WARNS A/S HOOK ABOUT DETERIORATING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001562

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018
TAGS: EAID PREF PREL PTER KPAL LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNRWA WARNS A/S HOOK ABOUT DETERIORATING
SITUATION IN BADDAWI PALESTINIAN CAMP

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) During a October 30 meeting with visiting Assistant
Secretary for International Organization (IO) Affairs Brian
Hook and the Ambassador, UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Deputy Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi and UNRWA Lebanon
Country Director Salvatore Lombardo warned that the
ingredients for increased tension between Nahr al-Barid
Palestinians and Beddawi Palestinians were present in the
Beddawi Camp in north Lebanon. Grandi noted the difficulties
UNRWA employees face traveling back and forth to the West
Bank. Grandi and Lombardo stressed the important role UNRWA
plays in the lives of many Palestinians, especially in
Lebanon and thanked A/S Hook for the USG's continued
assistance to UNRWA. End summary.

UNRWA SUPPORT A NECESSITY
FOR REFUGEE COMMUNITY
--------------


2. (C) Visiting IO A/S Brian Hook and the Ambassador met with
UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi and UNRWA
Lebanon Country Director Salvatore Lombardo on October 30.
IO Special Assistant Erin McLinn and PolOffs also attended
the meeting. Grandi briefed A/S Hook on UNRWA's work serving
the Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon and elsewhere in
the Middle East. Lombardo noted that Palestinian refugees in
Lebanon are worse off than in any other country, because of
the many restrictions placed on Palestinians by the
Government of Lebanon (GOL) regarding the ability of refugees
to work, attend universities, or receive heath care in
Lebanon.


3. (C) Lombardo also stressed the important role UNRWA plays
in providing services to Palestinian refugees. He added that
without UNRWA services, especially in Lebanon, the
Palestinian refugee community would be more prone to turn to
extremist groups that could offer such services. A/S Hook
noted the good work UNRWA has done serving Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. Grandi
added that UNRWA was in the process of commemorating its
sixtieth anniversary and wants to use the occasion to
re-brand the UNRWA name and image to the international donor
community. A well-known advertising firm is creating a new
brand pro bono for UNRWA and the 60th anniversary.

BEDDAWI HAS ALL THE
RECIPES FOR CLASHES
--------------


4. (C) Lombardo said the mood in the Beddawi refugee camp in
north Lebanon, home to around 17,000 of Nahr al-Barid's
refugee population, had become quite tense in recent weeks.
Many residents displaced from Nahr al-Barid during the 2007
fighting there that destroyed that camp moved to the nearby
Beddawi camp. Before the arrival of the Nahr al-Barid
refugees, Beddawi was one of Lebanon's most stable camps,
Lombardo noted, and factions within the camp were moderate
groups that had a good relationship with the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF). However, given the strain on the camp due to
the arrival of the Nahr al-Barid refugees and the lack of
resources overall for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,
tensions have begun to rise and may escalate if Nahr al-Barid
refugees are not moved from Beddawi.

REGIONAL POLITICS EFFECTS
REFUGEES STATE OF MIND
--------------


5. (C) Grandi then switched topics to the issue of Israel's

BEIRUT 00001562 002 OF 002


security barrier and the difficulties UNRWA employees face
traveling back and forth to the West Bank. A/S Hook noted
that the wall had improved Israel's security, which had
improved the opportunity for peace talks to proceed.
However, A/S Hook noted that the security wall also hurt the
Palestinians' economic situation, which may offset some of
the gains achieved by the barrier for the peace process.


6. (C) All sides have a lot of work to do to achieve peace,
but UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions do little to
advance the peace agenda, A/S Hook said. Grandi acknowledged
that it may be difficult for the international community to
solve the political issues affecting Palestinian refugees,
but donors could help improve the lives and conditions of the
Palestinians living in the camps.

UNRWA THANKFUL
FOR USG SUPPORT
--------------


7. (C) Lombardo noted that UNRWA has a small fund set aside
within its general budget dedicated for special projects. He
added the UNRWA's Management Reform Plan was funded out of
the special projects allocation to which the USG contributes.
A/S Hook asked Lombardo about the sanitation conditions in
the camps and whether or not UNRWA had plans to help address
this problem. Better sanitation could reduce the number of
medical cases clogging hospitals. Lombardo agreed it's a
problem and replied that UNRWA's Camp Improvement Initiative
had a component within its plan to address waste water
treatment and sewage problems.


8. (C) Grandi thanked A/S Hook for the USG's continued
support to UNRWA, in particular the $57 million to UNRWA's
2008 West Bank and Gaza emergency appeal. Grandi said that
UNRWA will lobby donors hard to see an increase in donor
contributions for next year, admitting that this would be
difficult given the global financial crises. Grandi added
that he was worried about the strengthening value of the
dollar and its effect on UNRWA's operations because UNRWA's
General Fund budget is dollar denominated, but some of
UNRWA's costs are in Euros translating into an increased cost
for UNRWA operations.


9. (U) A/S Hook has cleared this cable.

SISON