Lebanon, January 6, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - The Director of Affairs of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Lebanon said on Tuesday his agency was in the process of "re-structuring" its top priorities in a bid to improve services it provides to Palestinian refugees.

Salvatore Lombardo discussed services provided by his agency with representatives of Palestinian factions at the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. He also listened to the suggestions of various groups, which handed him a detailed report on the healthcare, education and social conditions inside refugee camps.

Lombardo said he wanted his meetings with Palestinian factions on Monday to be "frank." He stressed he will "openly and gladly" listen to the comments and feedback on UNRWA's performance. "We are open to all suggestions that contribute to improving our services and performance," he said.

In their report, Palestinian factions urged Lombardo to build a well-equipped hospital that would provide free of charge services to Palestinian refugees. They also asked that UNRWA raise to 85 percent the healthcare pension allotted to refugees. The report also stressed the need provide non-registered Palestinians with healthcare and medicines.

The report also asked UNRWA to increase the number of physicians and nurses working at the agency's health centers, especially in Ain al-Hilweh, in order to "allow enough time for the examination and diagnosis" of patients.

The factions also asked UNRWA to improve the infrastructure of the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp, and to renovate some of the residences that might collapse "at any moment."
The report also suggested that the camp's surface be increased by acquiring an adjacent stretch of land in light of the camp's ever-increasing population.

Also on Monday, Lombardo signed a memorandum with Lebanon's Public Health Minister Mohammad Jawad Kahlifeh allowing Palestinian refugees to receive treatment in 13 public hospitals.

According to the memorandum, UNRWA will transfer Palestinian patients to the accredited Lebanese public hospitals and will pay monthly dues directly to those hospitals.

The minister stressed that UNRWA should remain the "sole authority" coordinating the healthcare and social services to Palestinian refugees.
"We set the framework for the medical treatment of Palestinian refugees but we also remind about the joint responsibility of the international community and the Arab countries [in providing assistance]," Kahlifeh said.