The Akkar- region is one of the most poverished areas in Lebanon. Among the problems are unemployment, low access to health-care, polluted drinking water and high drop out- rates in the schools.
Norwegian charge d'affaires Aud Lise Norheim went with UNDP representative Martha Roueidas on a field trip to these areas on the 7th of February, with a delegation.
The northern area of Lebanon has not recieved as much attention to the poverty problem as the southern part of Lebanon. The result is that it is underdeveloped.
During their visit to the Northern region of Lebanon they went to the municipalities of the villages of Fnaidek, Bazbina and Ain Yacoub. They got to see the many different types of projects that the UNDP is involved in at the moment.
One is supporting cooperatives such as in Bazbina, where agriculture is one of the main sources of income. Advising the farmers how they can be able to produce and export their products is important. Around 16 agricultural cooperatives receive training in Akkar.
In Dawra the UNDP is supporting a garbage project, where people's used plasctic bottles and cans are collected. An important aspect is to change people's awareness to protect the environment by recycling.
In Ain Yaccoub the municipality have worked hard to turn things around. They have established two womens organizations in the villages, rehabilitation of agricultural canals, as well as a youth club and an IT-center to offer education for the young.
Still there are problems such as polluted water from the sewer which is leaking into the water source. Over 64 percent of the families in Akkar use sanitary holes which are leading to pollution of underground water.