“Rights are not affected by international borders and this community centre contributes to the protection of rights as well as providing a safe space for children”, said NRC Country Director Niamh Murnaghan at the opening of a new community centre in South Lebanon.
NRC celebrated the opening of its newest community centre in Bazouriyeh, South Lebanon, on 29 August, together with members of the local community, local authorities and NGOs (Mabarrat Association, Intersos and Amel Association). Representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Bazouriyeh Municipality, the Tyre local authority and UNHCR attended the centre’s inauguration and some gave speeches expressing their hopes and aspirations for the centre’s contribution to the community of Bazouriyeh and the refugee communities.
Mr. Ahmed Awada, representative of the Municipality said: “Today we reflect on the importance of serving humanity by responding to the needs of our Syrian brothers and sisters who are going through extremely difficult times.” He also reminded that “our Syrian brothers and sisters have helped the Lebanese in the past when we were facing attacks” and that the establishment of the community centre in the village of Bazouriyeh was an indication of the community’s deep concern towards the refugees it hosts and an expression of its will to help. “Words cannot express how much we want to help those in need. We feel deep gratitude toward the humanitarian community for standing side by side with those who need their assistance” he concluded.
The UNHCR representative, Marie Hesselholdt, commented on the incredible generosity of those hosting the refugees: “The Lebanese people have opened up their villages and towns to those fleeing for safety, and shared their basic services. We hope all will make the best use of this centre”. UNHCR operates the refugee registration centre nearby and has funded NRC to establish and run the community centre.
The NRC Country Director, Niamh Murnaghan, was happy to see that children from Bazouriyeh, together with refugee children, had already been participating in activities. She expressed her hope that the hosting community, alongside the refugees, will continue to benefit from what the centre has to offer.
NRC has established six community centres across Lebanon to date. They offer recreational and non-formal educational activities for children, as well as information and counselling about how people in need can access basic services. This year alone NRC, through its Information Counselling and Legal Assistance programme, has served almost 20,000 refugees with free legal assistance as well as with information and counselling about how to access basic services. And over 3,000 children have participated in NRC’s community centre education activities in 2013.
NRC has been active in Lebanon since July 2006, providing protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons. Since the Syria crisis it has provided assistance to over 75,000 Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi refugees as well as Lebanese who are hosting the refugees.