LEBANON: Britain's International Development Minister Justine Greening visits a school in Lebanon, and announces four million pounds in aid to support education for Lebanese and Syrian schoolchildren

Record ID: 274484

  • Title: LEBANON: Britain's International Development Minister Justine Greening visits a school in Lebanon, and announces four million pounds in aid to support education for Lebanese and Syrian schoolchildren
  • Date: 14th January 2014
  • Summary: ZAHLE, LEBANON (JANUARY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SCHOOL VARIOUS OF SCHOOL ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF CHILDREN STANDING BEHIND FENCE IN SCHOOL HALL VARIOUS OF BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, JUSTINE GREENING, ENTERING CLASSROOM GREENING LOOKING AT CHILDREN CHILDREN SEATED AROUND ROUND TABLE IN CLASS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH SECRETARY OF S
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1GWCFO06GHEZK8CWPZSK2I2ZD
  • Story Text: Britain announced a four million pound ($6.5 million) package of aid on Tuesday (January 14) to help Syrian and Lebanese schoolchildren.
    A U.K. government minister made the announcement during a visit to a school in Lebanon, which is hosting over 800,000 refugees who have fled the war in neighbouring Syria.
    International Development Minister, Justine Greening, said children between the ages of six and 15 who attended state schools in Lebanon would receive a set of textbooks covering key academic subjects.
    "One of the things the UK is determined to do is to make sure that children in Lebanon, whether Syrian refugee children, many of whom are behind me, or Lebanese children in public schools have the school books that they need to be able to study effectively. So today we are announcing up to four million pounds of UK support to make sure that 300,000 children in the Lebanese school system get books in core subjects: maths, science, languages, literature, to make sure that they'll be able to get through school. That will include books for 80,000 Syrian refugee children, but 240,000 Lebanese children as well," she said as she visited a school in Zahle, near the Bekaa valley.
    The Lebanese education system has been struggling to cope with the huge influx of Syrian refugees, with some schools operating a shift system to ensure all children can attend.
    Lebanese Education Ministry figures show 26,000 Lebanese children were enrolled in government schools in the Bekaa Valley in 2012, along with 7,000 Syrians. Another 14,000 Syrians were waiting for places in additional afternoon shifts.
    The World Bank has estimated the cost to Lebanon of hosting Syrian refugees is around $2.6 billion over three years.
    Greening said the British government had already made a major financial contribution, in what it said was its largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis.
    "So far, the UK government's provided over 500 million pounds of support for the overall Syria refugees crisis, 100 million pounds of that has directly supported Lebanon in the challenges it's facing in hosting so many refugees - over 800,000 now. It's putting a huge strain on local communities in Lebanon. The UK is determined to work with the Lebanese government, particularly in education, to make sure that we can help Lebanon cope with this huge number of refugees. We're also working with refugees directly, to make sure that they've got the shelter, food and the medical attention that they need, having left their own country," she said.
    Britain's announcement comes ahead of an international donor conference, which is to be held in Kuwait on Wednesday (January 15).
    The conference aims to help the United Nations raise $6.5 billion for Syria and neighbouring countries in 2014, the biggest humanitarian aid appeal in the organisation's history.
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