A Grant Agreement was signed today in Beirut, between the Republic of Lebanon and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, whereby the Kuwait Fund provide a Grant in the amount of US$ 27 to assist in financing several projects that support Syrian Refugees in Lebanese hosting communities.. 

The Loan Agreement was signed on behalf of the Republic of Lebanon by His Excellency Mr. Nabeel Al-Jisr, President of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, and was signed on behalf of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development by Mr. Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Director-General of the Fund.

First: Health Sector Projects in Host Communities:

The project aims at strengthening the health system in service delivery capacity and strengthening coordination capacity; contribute to meet the health needs of the Syrian refugees and host communities, by improving the level and delivery of primary and specialized healthcare services. Supporting in the healthcare sector to ensure the continuity of the required healthcare services in areas most affected by the influx of Syrian refugees. The projects include: establishment of (11) primary and comprehensive healthcare centers, scaling-up blood bank services and public health laboratories, and medical waste treatment, provision of medical equipment, and development of kidney dialysis units.

The Project aims to enhance public services delivery in the Lebanese host communities for the Syrians refugees in the health, education, social affairs, water, and solid waste sectors and through the implementation of projects in these sectors to ensure continuity of services required in areas of large concentration of refugees.

The Project includes the following components:

1.    Health Sector

A.   Enhancement of several emergency departments of public hospitals: The Project includes the provision of equipment, medical supplies and equipment management to government hospitals.

B.   Rehabilitation and provision of equipment for several social, cultural and health centers which includes civil works and supply of medical, administrative and IT equipment. In addition to the modernization and upgrading Dahr Bashiq Hospital.

2.    Education Sector

A.   The rehabilitation and equipping of a number of public schools. The intervention includes civil works and supply of educational, administrative and IT equipment.

3.    Potable Water Supply

A.   Drilling and equipping wells and augmenting the potable water network in the Shebaa area.

B.   The development of irrigation system in Hrar - Akkar: The project includes the laying of irrigation water pipe from the spring of Kaf elTina to the town of Hrar about 7 km long in addition to the erection of pump station including in-house electric generator, in addition to civil and electromechanical works.

4.    Solid Waste Treatment

A.   solid waste treatment plant in the processing area Fneideq / Akkar: The project includes the supply and installation of equipment for screening and treatment of solid waste.

B.   Development of waste sorting plant in Tripoli to the Fayhaa Union of Municipalities (Tripoli, the port, and Badawi): The project includes the supply and installation of additional equipment to increase the absorptive capacity of the screening, in addition to the establishment of converting organic matter into compost facilities (composting).

C.   Create the relay station for solid waste in Hermel to the Hermel Union of Municipalities: The project includes civil and electromechanical works for the relay station, in addition to the supply of equipment and machinery needed to run the station.

D.   Provision of utility vehicles to transport waste and clean the streets in addition to sewers vacuum trucks. The Project is expected to be completed by mid-2017.

The total cost of the Projects is estimated at about US$. 27 million and the Grant will cover 100% of the cost.

It is worth mentioning that the number of loans extended by the Kuwait Fund for Republic of Lebanon are 21 Loans to finance projects in various sectors totaling approximately KD 211 million. The Fund has also provided Lebanon with Two Technical Assistances totaling about KD 880 thousand (equivalent to about US$ 3.0 Million) to finance the preparation of technical and economic feasibility studies, in addition to 8 Grants totaling approximately KD 3.5 million (equivalent to about US$ 9.0 million), to finance projects in the Health Sector and Train Government Employees. The Fund also administers 7 Grants provided by the Government of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Lebanon totaling approximately KD 119 million to finance projects in the Health Sector in addition to the Reconstruction Program in Lebanon and the Rebuilding of Beirut Historical Museum.