Lebanon | Action GroupÂ
The Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Affairs in Lebanon, Dorothy Klaus, accompanied by her Deputy for Programmes, Oliver Bridge, held a meeting with the Lebanese Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, on May 8. The discussion focused primarily on the challenges facing Palestine refugee students from Syria in enrolling in higher education institutions in Lebanon, primarily due to their lack of valid residency permits. UNRWA described the Minister’s comment on this matter as “positive,” indicating a positive engagement with the issue. Although the Ministry has not yet released further details, UNRWA confirmed that it continues to closely monitor the issue with great interest.
The meeting also addressed UNRWA’s education program in Lebanon in general, and both sides reviewed the challenges facing the Agency in this vital sector, particularly in light of the ongoing shortage of financial resources and the harsh living conditions faced by Palestine refugees.
The UNRWA education program in Lebanon benefits 38,000 students during the current academic year, including more than 3,600 Palestine refugees displaced from Syria. These students are distributed across 61 of the Agency’s schools across Lebanon.Â
At the conclusion of the meeting, Director Klaus and Deputy Director Bridge expressed their appreciation to Minister Rima Karami for her constructive engagement and prior knowledge of UNRWA’s work, which contributed to a fruitful and diverse exchange of views on the issues raised. UNRWA affirms the importance of cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education to ensure the right of all Palestine refugees to access quality education.