| Administrative History | Allocations: 1950-1954, 1956-1993; programme spending in 1993/94, 1994/95; see later annual reports for any subsequent allocations.
SCF sent grants to Tripoli and Beirut in 1924 for the relief of Armenian refugees arriving in Lebanon. In 1938 SCF contributed towards the cost of the Armenian hospital in Lebanon.
In December 1948 SCF sent a team of medical staff and welfare workers to work among Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (apparently in Syria), but after experiencing considerable difficulties the team was transferred to Lebanon. Nurses established clinics and nurseries at Tripoli, whilst welfare workers distributed milk and food to children in refugee camps at Tyre and Sidon. By 1950 classes for girls and a nursery school had been established in Tripoli. In October 1953, the SCF team were withdrawn from Tripoli and transferred to Jordan. In 1956 SCF established a sponsorship programme in Lebanon.
In 1976, various sums were sent out for relief of victims of the civil war. In November 1976 an SCF relief team was sent to Lebanon. SCF staff worked on both sides of the conflict. SCF set up Medical and Infant Welfare clinics in refugee camps near Beirut and in South Jordan, and supported work of St George's Hospital. SCF delivered relief supplies, started an immunisation programme, and set up a home visiting scheme. A kindergarten was opened in the area of St Michel. The emergency work tailed off by 1979 but the sponsorship programme continued. SCF sent funds to projects run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, including midwifery training, play centres, and scholarships.
Following the bombardment of Beirut in 1982, SCF was one of the first aid agencies into the city. After organising emergency relief, rehabilitation programmes were developed, including work with the government on a national primary health care plan, support for day care centres and assistance to Palestinian refugees in the south, including an orphan-help programme funded by the Arab Women's Association. During the 1980s SCF continued to run the kindergarten programme, in-service training courses for kindergarten teachers, the Orphan Help programme including summer camps, and sponsorship scheme. SCF established a nurse aide training programme and child care workers training course. SCF also sponsored a vocational training programme and family assistance programme at Bourj El Barajneh. In 1985 three SCF staff were seconded to UNRWA.
In the 1990s SCF continued to support Palestinian refugees in Lebanon through its pre-school and non-formal education programme, clubs, summer camps and training courses. SCF expanded its work to include the 'revolving textbook' project. In 2001 a partnership was established with Naba'a for the running of the Palestinian refugee programme in Lebanon. |