The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs inspects the devastation caused by the conflict in Lebanon and visits a Palestinian refugee camp

The UN official visited the Shatila camp for Palestinian refugees in southern Beirut and inspected the Ramallah School in the camp, where he met a number of students and workers there.

Fletcher said: “I saw today the importance of what UNRWA does: education, health, livelihoods. But most importantly, giving the Palestinian communities here some hope. And at the heart of that is giving these young people a sense of future and a sense of opportunity.”.

The UN official added: “As long as you have that sense of hope, there is something to cling to. That is why UNRWA’s role is so important and necessary. That is why there is no plan B for it.”.

A message of hope and solidarity

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs then headed to the south of the country, where he inspected the damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from the recent escalation.

Fletcher said: “So much destruction. This adds to years of crises, including economic collapse, the Beirut port explosion, and political paralysis. And now this latest wave of conflict that has caused massive damage to civilian infrastructure across Lebanon.”.

The UN official visited Tibnine Governmental Hospital in Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon, where he said that hospitals like these should not be a target during the conflict.

He pointed out that this is the only hospital out of seven that has been operating all the time, serving 35 villages.

Fletcher stressed that civilian infrastructure and hospitals must be protected during the conflict.

He said of the medical staff and humanitarian workers he met at the hospital that when many people fled, they stayed there and continued, even in the most difficult circumstances, to provide assistance.

While standing in front of the hospital, he added: “From this place of despair and devastation, we take a message of hope and solidarity.”.