2006 press releases
USAID Inaugurates Facility for Substance Addicts at Roumieh Prison
June 12, 2006United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef and U.S. Embassy Political Officer Edward Messmer inaugurated a new facility for individuals with substance addiction at Roumieh Prison on June 12, 2006, in the presence of Lebanese Internal Security Forces General Antoine Shakkour.
The U.S. Government, through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs – INL provided $50,000 to Association Justice et Misericorde – AJEM, to furnish an annex at Roumieh Prison that is specifically dedicated to incarcerated individuals suffering from substance abuse, with the purpose of separating them from other types of prisoners.
AJEM is a local organization that works on promoting the rights of prisoners in Lebanon, improving their detention conditions, supporting their families and reintegrating ex-prisoners back into the society.
Up to fifty young individuals incarcerated at Roumieh Prison benefit from INL’s assistance, through accessing literacy, learning manual work, accessing vocational training and benefiting from improved sanitary conditions.
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 $40 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.
