Mads Almaas, NRC Lebanon (10.01.2012)
Historical decree finally allows NRC to start rebuilding the Mohajereen neighbourhood from where over a hundred Palestinian refugee families were displaced in 2007.
In 2007 the Palestinian inhabitants of the Mohajereen neighbourhood were forced to flee during a four month long military campaign against militants using the neighbourhood as a hide-out. The raids resulted in the total destruction of this neighbourhood, located adjacent to the Nahr al-Bared Refugee Camp in the north of Lebanon.
In 2009, NRC signed a contract with the European Commission in Lebanon for the full reconstruction of the Mohajareen neighbourhood.
The Lebanese government at the time promised that the entire camp and adjacent areas would be rebuilt. Due to a number of factors, the whole reconstruction process has been severely delayed, creating unnecessary additional suffering for many residents.
In February 2011, NRC was forced to suspend the project due to the absence of a government. However, on Tuesday 13 December the Lebanese Cabinet finally passed the decree to allow reconstruction to begin.
The reconstruction work will start as soon as possible, and will enable a total of 111 families representing more than 600 people to return to their homes.
Several Palestinian refugee camps were destroyed during the Lebanese civil war. Until the destruction of Nahr al-Bared, none were ever rebuilt. The Mohajereen Decree therefore represents a historical development with regard to refugee protection in Lebanon.
NRC is also very grateful for the continuous support from the EU Delegation to Lebanon for its patience and support in bringing about this positive development.