British Minister: Lebanon's Generosity Should be Matched by Further Int'l Support
Rory Stewart, the UK Minister of State for International Development visited Lebanon on Thursday and Friday of this week, ahead of the Brussels “Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” scheduled for 4-5 April.
In the Bekaa and Beirut, Stewart saw how the UK is helping Lebanese host communities cope with the impact of hosting large numbers of refugees, and how children in public schools are “benefiting from free, quality education, supported by UK Aid,” a British Embassy statement said.
Stewart welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the forthcoming Brussels Conference, “where we expect the international community to increase efforts to build the resilience of countries neighboring Syria, including Lebanon,” the Embassy added.
He also met with Minister of Education Marwan Hamadeh, Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Mouein al-Merehbi, MP Bahia Hariri and advisers to Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
During a roundtable on non-formal education with Hamadeh, Bahia Hariri and education stakeholders, Stewart emphasized the importance of effective non-formal education to equip children with the literacy and numeracy standards needed to join the formal system.
According to the Embassy statement, the UK is investing in a £60m program with UNICEF, which will help 100,000 children access quality non-formal education over the next four years, along with child protection services.
Minister Stewart also visited an informal tented settlement in the Bekaa.
UNHCR officials briefed him about the difficult circumstances faced by the refugees and how they are helping the most vulnerable, with UK support.
As for the local community, at the municipality the minister heard about “the brand new flood retaining wall and public market constructed with UK support which is changing the daily lives of 8,500 people in Bar Elias village.”
Rory Stewart, accompanied by British Ambassador Hugo Shorter, Minister Marwan Hamadeh and MP Bahia Hariri also met teachers and students at the Furn El Chebbak public middle school.
Speaking at the end of the visit, Stewart said: “I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity of the Lebanese people, under difficult circumstances. I truly believe that the Lebanese are doing the Syrians -- and the world -- a great act by temporarily hosting the refugees in their country. This should be matched by further international support to meet the needs of both the Lebanese and Syrians.”
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