Lebanon News

Jan. 21, 2016 | 12:17 AM

New UNHCR chief tours informal refugee shelters

Grandi speaks to a Syrian student at the Ibtihaj Kadoura Intermediate Public School in Bir Hasan.

Flora Mory| The Daily Star

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on January 21, 2016, on page 2.

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Summary

The newly elected U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi Wednesday toured an informal refugee shelter and a public school south of Beirut in his first official visit to Lebanon since taking office in Jan. 1 .

UNHCR is working with the Education Ministry to create more places for school children through a "two shift" system. When public schools have reached full capacity, UNHCR coordinates a second "shift" of classes for Syrian refugees in the afternoon.

In September of last year, the Education Ministry launched a nationwide "Back to School" campaign to invite all parents to register their children in school with the support of $94 million through UNHCR, UNICEF, the World Bank and bilateral donors.

Grandi also visited Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk.