UNRWA Commissioner-General and US Consul General Cut Ribbon on New Health Centre

On 13 July 2007, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Karen Abu Zayd, and US Consul General in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles, attended the opening of a new health centre in Jalazone refugee camp, constructed with the help of US$ 387,113 funding from the US government.

The new building is equipped with modern facilities, large consultation rooms and has been designed with disabled and elderly patients’ accessibility in mind. It will provide health services for 20,000 people in the camp.

As part of the visit to the camp, Jacob Walles was briefed by Dr. Umayyah Khammash, UNRWA’s Director of Health in the West Bank, about the health situation of refugees in camps and the numerous obstacles UNRWA faces in providing adequate health care.

The US Consul General said, "The United States is committed to helping meet the needs of the Palestinian people, and has done so through the General Fund as well as, in this case, contributions to specific projects." He added that "The centre will contribute to improved medical services for thousands of Palestinians in the area."