Cyprus in new aid package to Lebanon

The Republic of Cyprus, through its agency, CYPRUSAID, and in cooperation with the UN-HABITAT organisation, has agreed to provide USD684,000 as part of the post conflict reconstruction programme in Lebanon.
According to the Planning Bureau, the assistance will be given in two installments and will be used mainly to strengthen the administrative structure of the local authorities in South Lebanon and for infrastructure projects, following the Israeli attacks against Lebanon in July 2006.
The CYPRUSAID agency has provided a total of CYP2.05 mln in 2006 and 2007 for development projects in five countries namely, Lesotho, where there is an agreement between Cyprus and Ireland that the financial assistance be used to construct a boarding house for girls, in Mali, in cooperation with the government of Belgium to purchase machinery to build a waste plant and in Egypt where Cyprus provides lunch to preschool children as part of the World Food Programme (WFP).
In addition, the CYPRUSAID agency has collaborated with the WFP in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories and in Yemen, together with the relevant development department of Germany, has provided financial assistance to improve health care for mothers. This included the purchase of equipment, the training of doctors and nurses as well as upgrading existing district hospitals to maternity centres.
CYPRUSAID is also in consultation with Denmark for a joint project in the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian Autonomous Territories.