12 November 2009
Saida, Lebanon
Your Excellency Mr. Patrick Laurent
Representatives of the Lebanese Government and Army
Representatives of the Palestinian Community
UNRWA Colleagues,
Distinguished guests
It is my pleasure to be with you today to inaugurate the Deir Al-Qasi Preparatory School.
Construction of this school has been made possible through the generous financial contribution of the European Union. On behalf of UNRWA and Palestine refugees, I express my deep appreciation for European support, and particularly that of the EC delegation. I also take this opportunity to thank the European Union for the building of other UNRWA schools in Lebanon as part of its EU Education Project, and other important infrastructure projects such as in Burj Barajneh camp and Mar Elias in Beirut.
We are also grateful to the government of Lebanon for its cooperation as well as to the PLO which provided land to build the Deir Al-Qasi school.
Through its mandate to deliver basic services to Palestine refugees, UNRWA attaches particular attention to the provision of education and to ensuring that every child has access to quality education. For Palestine refugee families and communities who have lived in exile for so long, education is essential to pave the way to a successful and productive future.
The building of this school, which is the largest under the EU project, as well as the other new schools recently inaugurated in Talabaya have meant 155 additional classrooms for Palestinian children. This allows for a more comprehensive educational environment, notably ending double shift, opening opportunities for recreational activities after classes in the afternoon, increasing the time teachers can spend with students and offering computer and science laboratories.
Today’s inauguration is an example of what can be achieved when we join forces, UNRWA, donors, host authorities and beneficiaries. Until a just and lasting solution to the refugees’ plight is achieved, it is my hope that we will continue to work side by side to contribute to the development of healthy, peaceful and well educated Palestinian communities.
Thank you.
InterTech 
