UN official praises UAE decision to host 15,000 Syrian refugees

Beirut - Kaag made the remarks during a meeting with UAE Ambassador to Lebanon Hamad Saeed Al Shamsi.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag on Thursday praised the recent decision of the UAE to welcome 15,000 Syrian refugees on its territories over the next five years.
The UN Special Coordinator praised the importance of this step, saying "it is a model that should be followed by other countries because it will offer refugees a life in dignity as well as education and job opportunities," a statement from the UAE Embassy in Beirut said.
She underlined that the United Nations was counting on such initiatives due to the growing numbers of refugees worldwide, particularly since "grants and assistance offered by donors are not sufficient to meet all the required needs."
Kaag made the remarks during a meeting with UAE Ambassador to Lebanon Hamad Saeed Al Shamsi where discussions focused on the situation in Lebanon and regional developments.
In the past five years, the UAE provided more than US$750 million in assistance for Syrian refugees and displaced people in neighbouring host countries, including in Lebanon where the Office of Humanitarian and Development Attache Office at the UAE Embassy supports humanitarian projects and provides health, medical and educational aid, Ambassador Al Shamsi noted.
The UAE opened a model refugee camp in Al Marj town, Bekaa Valley, which includes a school and a small library, he said.
The UAE already welcomed more than 123,000 Syrian citizens who joined nationals of more than 201 countries, where they all live together, a situation which enhances diversity and provides real and tangible contributions to shared responsibilities towards the crisis of Syrian refugees, the ambassador further noted.

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