LEBANON: UNRWA DIRECTOR SAYS NAHR AL-BARID

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000495

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2019
TAGS: PREF PREL PTER KPAL LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNRWA DIRECTOR SAYS NAHR AL-BARID
RECONSTRUCTION MUST BEGIN NOW

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

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


1. (C) In a April 29 meeting with the Ambassador, the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in
the Near East (UNRWA) Lebanon Director, Salvatore Lombardo,
said he was worried about ongoing delays on the GOL side
regarding reconstruction efforts for the destroyed
Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr al-Barid. Particularly, he
noted that the delays are causing the Palestinian refugee
community to become more hostile and angry towards UNRWA and
the GOL. Lombardo noted that things could get "real nasty"
if construction did not begin soon.


2. (C) The Cabinet has yet to approve the UNRWA-developed
"Master Plan" for Nahr al-Barid reconstruction, but is set to
discuss the matter on April 30. The expropriation decree and
construction permits remain unresolved issues, in addition to
a recently discovered archaeological site on the site of the
camp to be reconstructed, which is also delaying progress.
However, Lombardo noted that Saudi Arabia will make an
initial contribution of $25 million on May 5 to the
Reconstruction Appeal. End Summary.

UNREST IN THE CAMPS
--------------


3. (C) In a April 29 meeting with the Ambassador and Poloff,
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Lebanon Director, Salvatore
Lombardo, said he was worried about ongoing delays on the GOL
side regarding reconstruction efforts for the destroyed
Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr al-Barid. He noted that the
delays are making camp residents, and the Palestinian refugee
community, in general, hostile and angry towards UNRWA and
the GOL. At least 2,000 Nahr al-Barid residents demonstrated
on April 24 to voice their growing concerns over the delays
in the reconstruction of the camp. Earlier that day, Friday
sermons hinted that if legal hurdles were not overcome before
the June 7 Lebanese parliamentary elections, the
reconstruction would be less likely to take place, he
reported.

ONGOING DELAYS
HOLDING UP CONSTRUCTION
--------------


4. (C) One delay in particular is that the Cabinet has yet
to approve the UNRWA-developed design layout, or "Master
Plan," for Nahr al-Barid reconstruction. The cabinet is set
to vote on the Master Plan later today, April 30. In
addition to the GOL's approval of the Master Plan, the
cabinet must also approve the land expropriation decree. The
cabinet has approved all amendments to the expropriation
decree in previous sessions, but approval of the final
document is set to occur on April 30 as well. Approval of
these two items are prerequisites for reconstruction to
begin.


5. (C) Occurring simultaneously throughout this entire
process is the financing of the expropriated land. The GOL
has the funding needed to begin initial construction.
However, Minister of Finance Mohammed Chatah still needs to
sign off on the transfer of funds order, from the Ministry of
Finance to the Council of Development and Reconstruction
(CDR). Lombardo asked the Ambassador to reach out to Chatah
and ask him to sign the transfer of funds agreement
immediately. Lombardo estimated that CDR can complete the
expropriation process of the areas for the initial
construction within one month after the receipt of funds from
the Ministry of Finance.

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6. (C) After the Master Plan and expropriation decree are
appoved by the cabinet, the Ministry of Transport and ublic
Works' Urban Planning Directorate must decde whether or not
to waive the construction permit requirement for UNRWA, so
that UNRWA can begin actual construction. Lombardo wants the
GOL to waive this requirement for UNRWA. However, GOL Chief
Technical Advisor for Nahr al-Barid reconstruction Dr. Sateh
Arnaout argued in a April 30 UNRWA donors' meeting that UNRWA
will have to obtain the construction permits, as waiving this
requirement would require parliament to amend the law. Once
the GOL approves the Master Plan, UNRWA can begin to apply
for construction permits to begin reconstruction. UNRWA's
application will more than likely be handled in an expedited
manner, Arnaout added.

HISTORY HOLDS UP CONSTRUCTION
--------------


7. (C) Another issue that has come up recently is the
discovery of an archaeological site on the grounds of the
Nahr al-Barid camp. Two, 3,000 year-old sarcophagi were
discovered on the camp site. According to Lebanese law, the
GOL is responsible for preserving the site. There exists a
number of options on how to do this. However, UNRWA favors
leaving the site as is and building around/above the
archaeological find (known as back-filling),as it is the
quickest and easiest option. Minister of Culture, Tammam
Salam's recommendation on how to preserve the site is needed
before construction can begin. Lombardo asked the Ambassador
to speak with Salam to urge him to support this option.

SAUDI'S SET TO FINALLY PONY UP
--------------


8. (C) Lombardo also noted that Saudi Arabia has confirmed
it will make an initial contribution of $25 million on May 5
to the Reconstruction Appeal for Nahr al-Barid. Lombardo
hoped that this initial downpayment from Saudi Arabia will
trigger additional donations from the other Gulf countries.

COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) With the June 7 parliamentary elections looming and
the GOL's attention shifting increasingly toward
election-related matters, it is imperative the GOL signs off
on the final details of the reconstruction plan immediately.
There is real concern at UNRWA that if the GOL continues to
delay voting on items such as the Master Plan and
expropriation decree, the Palestinian residents in each of
Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps will intensify their
protests. These protests could turn violent in the lead-up
to the elections, as many Palestinians already believe that
any new Prime Minister or new government that takes office
will be less supportive of Palestinian refugee issues than PM
Siniora and the current government. This violence has the
potential to spill out of the camps and into the general
Lebanese public.


10. (C) The Saudi donation will be an encouraging sign.
Hopefully, additional Gulf funding will start to come in,
which may help ease some of the Palestinian refugee
community's concerns. However, no amount of money will be as
effective in alleviating their concerns and tensions, as will
the actual sight of construction taking place will do.
Therefore, we will enhance our efforts in urging the GOL to
make its finals approvals of the Nahr al-Barid reconstruction
plan. End Comment.

SISON