Shelter/WatSan Cluster Meeting Minutes (14 January 2010)

AA invited the PC to attend the cluster and they did.
LM didn’t attend the meeting. It is agreed that the action to follow up with LAF for UNRWA staff permission to A’ should be cancelled since no progress observed.
KN revised and sent the Action plan to stakeholders.

MAA briefed the cluster on UNRWA updates as follows:
The old camp:
The reconstruction process in package one started. Initial ground floor columns are under construction and backfilling is ongoing. Work progress on the site is satisfactory. UNRWA’s approach is to invest time to train the contractor to follow the specifications, rather than use “common approach” attitude, in order to ensure compliance with the contract and for the construction to go smoothly in the future. Package 2 has been tendered and the deadline for the contractors to submit their bids is 26th January 2010.

UNRWA Schools
Tender to build 2 schools has been issued and the tenderers have submitted their bids on 11th January 2010. The bids are under review.
AG from PC asked if there is any non-technical obstacle delaying the construction process of the old camp. MA replied that there are no obstacles but rather technical issues that need to be addressed professionally. Then AG asked if there is a specific date to deliver the houses to families in package one. MA said that the project witnessed delays due to antiquities and other external factors. UNRWA is reviewing the delays and the additional works that were not included in the tender (such as backfill material) and very soon will agree with the contractor on the extent of the time extension. UNRWA hopes that package one will be completed by the end of this year.

UNRWA Compound:
The master plan has been submitted to the government for approval. DGU has approved the master plan and a decree is being prepared for approval by the cabinet of ministers.
AG asked whether there is a specific date for approval. MA said that there is no specific date but also they don’t expect any delay.

Temporary Accommodation – Plot 755:
Works will be completed in March and the plot will be ready to receive families.

Infrastructure in the Adjacent area:
UNRWA was informed that RRC signed an agreement with the Government of Greece for a donation of one million Euros and RRC is likely to use this fund to fill the gaps in the infrastructure in the adjacent area primarily in the prime areas. UNRWA also reported that the French Government offered further one million Euros for the same purpose. However, UNRWA believes that the Greek donation will be enough for the gaps in infrastructure, thus the French funds best be invested in the rehabilitation of housing units.
AG expressed PC concerns regarding CDR’s commitment to implement infrastructure works in the recently opened prime areas. He added that PC will raise this issue at the higher PC level (Beirut) to be discussed with CDR and CFD.

AA briefed the cluster on NRC updates as follows:
Stabilization:
58 buildings have been completed in the adjacent area including 15 buildings in the recently opened areas of B’. Further 5 buildings will be stabilized in the coming month.

Emergency Repairs (ER):
89 units in the stabilized buildings received grants for ERs. NRC also secured funds for 75 units in the adjacent area and the prime areas to be given ER grants. 25 units in the recently opened prime areas identified to be in urgent need of ERs (i.e. where people already occupy the flats and have plastic sheets covering window and door openings), have been given ER grants. Information regarding the assistance for these units will be shared with implementing agents of the forthcoming Italian Cooperation project to insure that there is no duplication and that these families receive fair level of assistance.

Waterproofing:
NRC has completed SIDA-funded project for 2009 where 119 roofs in the adjacent area have been waterproofed. Another SIDA-funded project for 2010, where 25 roofs will be waterproofed, has already started.

Internal Emergency Rehabilitation:
Under the same SIDA-funded project for 2010, NRC will rehabilitate kitchen, bathrooms and living space for 55 units in the adjacent area. The technical and social criteria are being developed and the assessment is to start in the second half of this month.
AG asked about details of this new activity and suggested that NRC should arrange a meeting with PC as soon as the criterion is finalized.

IB added that NRC has funds to upgrade 15 houses within Palestinian gatherings in North Lebanon. These 15 houses have been assessed as having a “Highly Urgent Shelter Need” (HUSN). This intervention is part of a Lebanon-wide, ECHO-funded project to upgrade over 400 HUSN shelters among in Palestinian gatherings.
AG from PC expressed the committee’s interest in this activity and asked for further details about the project and the criteria used in the classification. RE gave details on this project and promised to send the hard copy of the executive summary of the report of the assessment done by PU and NRC last year for the Palestinian gatherings.

Reconstruction of Mohajjareen:
Rubble removal works completed. The contractor dug 1.5m under ground level without finding any antiquities.
95% of families agreed on the house design and the process is ongoing with the remaining families.
The Master plan is approved by LAF and has been sent to DGU for approval.
The lawyers of NRC, PLO and Awkaf are working together to get the land registered in the name of Awkaf.

CDR and CFD informed the cluster that they are not going to participate in any coordination meetings for the time being.

Next meeting is scheduled for 4th February 2010 @ 11:00 AM at the NMU.