2005 press releases

The United States Funds Projects in Upper Chouf

June 15, 2005

U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman and United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef visited U.S.-funded projects in the total amount of $2.5 million in the Upper Chouf area on June 15, 2005.

The U.S. delegation toured the villages of Ain Wa Zain, Barouk, Maaser El Chouf, Aamatour and Moukhtara, visiting projects such as a health establishment, a natural cedar reserve, three wastewater treatment facilities, a computer and Internet center and a municipal community hall.

In Ain Wa Zain, USAID funded the Health Establishment of the Druze Community/Ain Wa Zain Hospital with $50,000 to procure equipment for the cancer section to enhance cancer treatment services for rural citizens. The hospital accommodates 94 beds and benefits more than 300,000 patients per year. The hospital currently serves 50 oncology patients per month.

In Barouk, USAID gave the Chouf Cedar Society $38,500 to implement the “Ecotourism in Al Chouf Cedar Nature Reserve” project, which aims at equipping and rehabilitating a lodging and a conference center, establishing a bird observatory, placing signage on trails, publishing a booklet on wildlife in the reserve and producing copies of a CD-ROM about the reserve. The project encourages the development of eco-tourism and will create increased job opportunities in the region.

In Maasser El Chouf, USAID funded the construction of a sewage treatment plant with the capacity to treat 450 cubic meters a day of wastewater, and the installation of 3,170 meters of sewage network. Implemented by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association/Pontifical Mission (CNEWA/Pontifical Mission), the project costs more than $465,000, of which the Municipality of Maaser El Chouf and the Union of Higher Chouf Municipalities contributed $120,000. The project will benefit 3,000 inhabitants.

In Aamatour, USAID funded the construction of a sewage treatment plant with the capacity to treat 900 cubic meters a day of wastewater, and the installation of 8,073 meters of sewage network to cater for the villages of Aamatour, Haret Jandal, Baadaran and Ain Qani. Implemented by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association/Pontifical Mission (CNEWA/Pontifical Mission), the project costs more than $720,000, of which the four municipalities and the Union of the Higher Chouf Municipalities contributed $211,000. The project will benefit 6,000 in four villages.

In Moukhtara, USAID funded the construction of a sewage treatment plant to treat 450 cubic meters a day of wastewater and the installation of 2,000 meters of sewage network for the villages of Moukhtara and Butmeh. Implemented by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association/Pontifical Mission (CNEWA/Pontifical Mission), the project costs more than $470,000, of which the two municipalities and the Union of the Higher Chouf Municipalities contributed $251,000.

Also in Moukhtara, USAID provided assistance to the municipality through the Center for Legislative Development at the State University of New York (SUNY/CLD). USAID provided computers to the municipality to publish taxpayers’ lists, documents essentially granting the municipality the right to collect taxes.

USAID provided $13,500 to fund the establishment of a computer center in Moukhtara in collaboration with SRI International and the Professional Computer Association (PCA). The center provides computer access and Internet connection to the population of Moukhtara and the surrounding villages. The center is part of the nationwide network of PiPOPs, or PCA Internet Points of Presence, located in villages throughout Lebanon.

The Community Hall of Moukhtara was built and equipped through a USAID grant under the Transparency and Accountability Grants (TAG) program in the amount of $25,000. In partnership with the Lebanese Association for the Protection of Natural and Archeological Sites in Chouf, the municipality uses this town hall to promote public participation in local issues, hold forums, and provide a meeting space for citizens and their political representatives.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked in Lebanon since 1951, funding development projects to benefit Lebanese citizens. USAID’s program promotes economic opportunities, job creation, good governance and environmental policies and practices in rural Lebanon. USAID provides $35 million assistance a year and works in partnership with U.S. and Lebanese organizations throughout the country. USAID strengthens the relationship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States, and promotes a shared vision of democracy and socio-economic development.

For more information about USAID’s projects in Lebanon, visit USAID’s web site www.usaidlebanon.org.lb.