By Jessy Chahine
World Vision Lebanon staff Lama Al Batal
helping out with the distribution of baby cribs in Beddawi Palestinian
camp, North Lebanon.
LEBANON - New funding from the
German government will allow World Vision Lebanon to continue meeting the
needs of refugees displaced by fighting in the Nahr el-Bared Palestinian
camp for at least another three months.
"Thanks to this grant, World Vision
can continue distributing essential hygiene items for babies and children
under four years of age," said Maya Assaf, Palestinian Refugee Program
programme officer. "We were the only nongovernmental organization
on the ground meeting those needs."
World Vision is distributing baby hygiene
kits twice a month to more than 2000 babies and children in the Palestinian
refugee camps of Beddawi, Burj Barajneh, Chatila Bekaa and El-Bus.
The kits include items such as shampoo,
baby clothes, towels, diapers, disinfectant, wet wipes, soap and milk bottles,
all of which abide by SPHERE standards to ensure the well-being and safety
of children.
"World Vision has recently conducted
various assessments in Beddawi Palestinian camp, North Lebanon, only to
find out that most refugee gatherings are suffering from poor hygiene conditions
mainly due to overcrowded shelters inside the camps," Assaf said.
The Lebanese Army has been battling
militants from Fatah al-Islam in the Naher el-Bared Palestinian refugee
camp near Tripoli since May 25, causing the displacement of more than 6,100
families. Most of those have fled to the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp.
To date, World Vision has distributed
more than 13,000 baby hygiene kits to several Palestinian refugee camps.
More than 250 baby cribs were distributed in Beddawi Palestinian camp and
in Borj el-Barajneh and Shatila camps in Beirut.
World Vision has also provided more
than 2,000 recreation kits and five tents to the child protection network
in the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp to support child friendly spaces
and activities in the camp.
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