March 11, 2011 Issue No. 97

Reconstruction:

On March 10, the first group of NBC families was to visit their new homes in Block N2 of Package

1. However families requested to postpone the site visit due to the rainy conditions. The visit

would be the first of two planned this month. Please note that UNRWA needs to apply for permits for everyone

who wishes to visit, so families should not change the person who will visit at the last minute. On the ground, UNRWA has requested Al Jihad to hand over Block N2 to UNRWA on March 20. Meanwhile,

UNRWA is double-checking that the finishing works, fencing, infrastructure, pedestrian access, roads, electricity,

and access will be completed in time. A fence will be put up around both the whole of Package 1, and block N2

alone, to separate residents from the construction site. In Package 2, works continue in N11, N12, N6 and N7.

Schools Package 2 Package 1

As for A0, meetings continue with advisors in the Prime Minister’s Office to try to resolve pending issues.

UNRWA, UNRWA's consultant, Rafik el-Khoury, and the Lebanese army all attended the meeting. The army

provided UNRWA and its consultant with a verbal approval on the proposed designs.

Adjacent Areas:

In coordination with UNRWA, Islamic Relief's insecticide spraying campaign - started in February- is taking place

in the adjacent area. For more information please visit the Camp Services Office in sector B. The Army confirmed to the Popular Committee that access to the Old and New Cemeteries is open between

5am and 8pm daily.

Visits to the North:

On March 09, the Directors of the Health and Education Departments in HQ Amman, Ms. Caroline Pontefract

and Dr. Akishiro Seita, traveled to the north. The directors were briefed on UNRWA's normal and emergency

services provided to all Palestine refugees in the north. Dr. Seita accompanied by the health staff in the north

visited the NBC health clinics, Manara School, Plot 674, the reconstruction site and the location of the

permanent clinic in the camp. In Beddawi, Dr. Seita’s visit included Safad Hospital and the UNRWA clinic in the

camp. On her side, Ms. Pontefract visited some of UNRWA's temporary schools in NBC and the schools under

reconstruction in NBC. Both visits aimed at providing better information on health and education services

provided in this area.

"NLA Services & Camp News" A ceremony for the donation of seven 60" plasma screens by Right To Play:

On March 10, a ceremony was held in the Northern Management Unit to celebrate the donation of seven 60"

plasma screens to UNRWA. In his speech, Jihad Haidar, the Director

of the NGO, Right To Play, in Lebanon said," We are handing today

these seven screens to UNRWA which were donated by Qatar 2022

Bid Committee." In his speech, Charlie Higgins, the NBC Project

Manager thanked Right To Play for their contribution and said, "Right

To Play remains an important partner in the recreational activities

provided to the children in the north. We hope more assistance to

come this summer too." Mr. Higgins pointed that these screens will

be used in the new schools and the vocational center in NBC and in

Beddawi facilities.

On March 9, UNRWA and Right To Play handed over responsibility for management of the Playground in Plot

755 to the NBC Sport Committee.

NGOs News: NGOs News: Celebration of Women’s Day in NBC:

On the occasion of Women’s Day, Nabaa and the NBC Women Program Center organized a ceremony on March

9 in the WPC in NBC. The ceremony was titled, "Equal Access to Training, Education, Science and Technology:

The road to decent work for women". It was attended by NGOs representatives, UNRWA staff and women from

the camp. In her speech, the director of the WPC, Ms. Manal AbdelAl, said that, "We as NGOs, target the woman

through our programs to assist her to promote herself and reach higher levels of competency, work, education,

knowledge and technology. We cannot ignore a woman's role in the development of society through her

effective contribution and standing...” A discussion was then opened and led by the director of Nabba in the

north, Mrs. Saleha Wannas, which focused on the role of the women and importance of giving their rights. The

ceremony was concluded a sale of food items prepared by women from NBC.

On the same occasion in Beddawi, forty women from NBC and Beddawi, who participated in the Home Station

Program, were honored by Nabaa in the home of one of the participants. The activity included speeches that

focused on the role of the woman, her rights, especially her right to free expression.

Health:

Education: Under the Learning Support Program which began in December 2010,

ceremonies were held in some NBC schools to honor the students who

showed improvement the mid-year exams. The Learning Support

Program funded thanks to European Union and UNICEF targets the students of

grades 3 and 4 and will end in May. An Open Day will be held on March 18 in

Kawkab School. The event is jointly organized with Education Department and 7

NGOs in the north. The schools participating in the event include Kawkab,

Battouf, Mejjedo, Al Majdal, and Al Mazar. The event will include children

games and distribution of awards. On March 11 and 18, Brevet classes

(grade 9) in NBC will take a unified test in Science and Mathematics to identify

the students' strengths and weaknesses in advance of the official exams. If there are any misprints or inaccurate statements, please go to Camp Information Office and NMU Communication Office

This newsletter was published thanks to Brazil's generous contribution to NBC relief

A handful of chickenpox cases have been detected in Beddawi. To avoid the spread of the virus, please be

mindful of the following:

• If you detect a case, please refer it directly to the health clinic

• Personal hygiene is vital

• Make sure to wash your hands after contact with people

• Avoid close contact with others especially in family settings

• Parents are advised to bring infected children to seek early medical advice

• Infected children should not go to school for one week to avoid spreading the virus to other students

• Stay away from the infected people and refrain from touching their belongings