 For the victims of the 2007 conflict in Nahr El Bared, there are better reasons to look forward to market day, thanks to a new local mart targeting producers, farmers and craftsmen.
This intervention represents one of the so-called Quick Impact Projects that attempt to address the various socio-economic needs of families that were affected by the Nahr El Bared conflict in 2007. “The idea of the market came as a result of several consultative meetings that gathered representatives from the local community in Muhammara and Nahr el Bared Camp for Palestinian refugees,” said Nadim Tellway, President of Muhammara Municipality. “Through this project, we seek to re-create a common space that would allow Lebanese and Palestinian to interact through commercial activities.” The representative of Community-Based Organizations in Nahr El Bared Camp noted that “the timing of the inauguration of the market is happening together with the start of reconstruction activities of the devastated camp, which is giving hope in a more promising future”. The two speakers suggested that the authorities re-consider the need for official permits to allow local residents to circulate freely in and out of the camp, which became a military-controlled zone. This issue represents a key obstacle delaying economic recovery in the area. This initiative is part of the UN joint project entitled “Integrated Support to the Rehabilitation of NBC Adjacent Area” that is funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO). UN-HABITAT focused on providing the necessary support to the Muhammara Municipality to improve service delivery mechanisms and benefiting both communities: Lebanese and Palestinian. For details click here.
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