The U.N. Relief and Works Agency in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared temporary closed its offices Friday due to violent protests by refugees.
“UNRWA regrets the latest protests in the northern Lebanese Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, which resulted in the closure of UNRWA offices, preventing its workers from carrying on their work and providing the necessary services for the camp’s residents,” a statement from UNRWA said.
UNRWA said that the attacks earlier in the morning - against the engineers working on the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the camp - forced them off their work sites, causing contractors to suspend their building projects.
“Such unconstructive behavior from the protesters affects the residents of Nahr al-Bared and delays the timeline for handing over residential units there,” the statement said.
UNRWA also said that such acts would obstruct the agency from receiving more aid from donor countries.
Nahr al-Bared was demolished in 2007 during battles between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam.
In September 2011, the first set of new houses and schools were completed in the camp, and 369 families - around 1,200 people - moved into the new homes.
UNRWA is still working on the rehabilitation of the camp.
