AFD and UNRWA Boost Schools and Infrastructure for Palestine Refugees in Lebanon

In Beddawi Camp, located in northern Lebanon, ten-year-old Ghazal begins her school day with enthusiasm, stepping into her newly renovated classroom. A fifth-grade student at Jineen School, she is one of hundreds of children benefiting from a major development initiative aimed at improving learning environments and essential infrastructure for Palestine refugees.

Since 2019, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has implemented a comprehensive program with €21 million in funding from France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The project targets education and water infrastructure across various refugee camps in Lebanon.

At Ghazal’s school, temporary classrooms have been replaced with improved facilities that now serve 694 female students. Nearby, boys at Jordan River Prefabricated School are also studying in upgraded spaces, with 628 students using the enhanced facilities.

Additional developments are underway in the same camp. The Kawkab and Battouf School building is being expanded to include 15 new classrooms, an accessible rooftop playground, and an elevator to accommodate students with mobility challenges. These upgrades are designed to create inclusive spaces that support academic and physical development for all students.

In North Lebanon’s Nahr El Bared Camp, the newly constructed Mazar and Majjedo School opened its doors for the 2023–2024 academic year and now provides education to 1,344 children. In the Beqaa region, construction is ongoing to replace a rented school building with a permanent structure, which will serve more than 700 students and provide appropriate recreational areas.

The initiative extends beyond the classroom to address urgent water and sanitation needs. In camps such as Beddawi and Rashidieh, elevated water towers have been restored to alleviate chronic shortages. Solar-powered pumps have been installed at wells in Mar Elias, Burj El Shamali, and Nahr El Bared, ensuring more reliable access to clean drinking water.

Outdated sewage systems in several camps have also been upgraded, including the replacement of narrow pipelines prone to flooding. Drainage networks have been improved, and chlorination systems have been added to secure water quality. Public awareness campaigns have accompanied these technical upgrades, encouraging responsible water use among camp residents.

Improvements to transportation infrastructure were also made, with several roads resurfaced to facilitate safer and easier daily movement for residents of all ages, from schoolchildren to the elderly.

On Monday, AFD and UNRWA officials visited Jenin School in Beddawi to observe the impact of the changes and engage with students, teachers, and families. The delegation, which included AFD’s Director in Lebanon, Jean Bertrand Mothes, and UNRWA Director of Affairs Dorothee Klaus, toured key project sites including the Kawkab and Battouf Schools and a renovated water tower.

Mothes emphasized that AFD’s support is focused on ensuring access to essential services such as education and healthcare, which are central to improving the lives of Palestine refugees in Lebanon. He highlighted how the project is creating pathways for young Palestinians to pursue brighter futures through quality schooling.

Klaus noted that the transformation of physical spaces is closely tied to providing children with a sense of hope and motivation. She said that the creation of inclusive and engaging educational environments has a direct impact not only on student achievement but also on the wellbeing of entire families and communities.

UNRWA currently runs 61 schools throughout Lebanon, reaching approximately 38,000 Palestine refugee students. The agency continues to operate under its long-standing mandate from the United Nations General Assembly, working to deliver education and basic services to one of the region’s most vulnerable populations.