UNRWA and Palestine refugees ... 50 years 1950-2000

An exhibition of photographs documenting 50 years of operations of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is displayed in the northeast corner of the Visitor's Lobby of the General Assembly Building from 3-31 May 2000.

The exhibition features some 75 colour and black-and-white photos, both historical images and contemporary scenes, portraying the lives of the Palestine refugees, and the work of the United Nations, through UNRWA, in assisting them over half a century.

UNWRA was established to deliver emergency assistance to Palestine refugees in the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, today UNRWA operations provides basic education, health, and relief and social services to some 3.6 million registered refugees in its five Fields of operations: Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Agency is one of the largest UN programmes, employing some 22,000 local and international staff. It is also unique within the UN system because of its long-standing commitment to the welfare and human development of one single group of refugees.

For more information visit the UNRWA web site.

Prepared for posting by the Information Technology Section, Department of Public Information © United Nations 2000