UNRWA DISTRIBUTES ‘DREAM BAGS’ TO 6,550 PALESTINE REFUGEE STUDENTS IN GAZA, THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM JAPAN’S RKK
17 October 2016
UNRWA has distributed ‘Dream Bags’ to dozens of Palestine refugee students all across Gaza, thanks to a generous contribution from RKK- a Japanese organization. The bags were distributed to 6,550 students from grades one to nine, in 267 schools across the Gaza Strip. This activity targets some of the most vulnerable students in UNRWA schools.
The distribution, which took place from 9 to 13 October 2016, is part of a project that aims at strengthening the relationship between Palestinian and Japanese children.
“I was really happy to have this dream bag. This will always be a nice memory I will never forget. Thank you children of Japan,” said one of the UNRWA students who received a ‘Dream Bag’ at Asma’a Co-ed Elementary School in Beach Camp, in north Gaza.
Approximately 263,229 students returned to 267 UNRWA schools in Gaza on 28 August. There are 8,529 dedicated UNRWA teachers who facilitate the education of Palestine refugee students in all five areas of the Gaza Strip, led by 247 school Principals and 265 Deputy School Principals.
Japan continues to be a reliable and consistent supporter of UNRWA. In 2015, Japan was among the top five donors to the Agency’s core programmes and services. This latest commitment of approximately US$ 4 million brings the total contributions of Japan to UNRWA in 2016 to around US$ 43 million.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
For more information, please contact:
Christopher Gunness
Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications
Mobile:
+972 (0)54 240 2659
Office:
+972 (0)2 589 0267
Sami Mshasha
Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson
Mobile:
+972 (0)54 216 8295
Office:
+972 (0)2 589 0724
Najwa Sheikh Ahmad
Acting Public Information Officer – Gaza Field Office
Mobile:
+972 597 920 542
Office:
+972 8 2887 488
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Assistance, Education and culture, Gaza Strip
Publication Date: 17/10/2016