US Chargé d’Affaires inaugurates computer laboratory – UNRWA press release

United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Inaugurates Computer Laboratory at

Sarafand/Karmel School, Yarmouk

Mr Stephen Seche, the United States Chargé d’Affaires in the Syrian Arab Republic, inaugurated today a computer laboratory at UNRWA Sarafand/Karmel school in Yarmouk. The laboratory equipped and funded by the US Government at a cost of US$ 20,000, will provide training in

computer skills to Palestine refugee children students and teaching staff.

Accompanied by Ms Patricia McPhillips , Officer-in-Charge of UNRWA Affairs in Syria, representatives of the US Embassy, Syrian Government representatives, UNRWA staff, students, teachers and parents toured the lab. The completion of the Sarafand/Karmel computer lab brings the number of UNRWA computer laboratories in Syria to 31.

This facility is an excellent example of the progress that can be achieved through active cooperation among UNRWA, host governments, and donor countries. The US Government supports this and many other UNRWA projects each year to help UNRWA improve its structure and undertake new, innovative projects throughout Syria and elsewhere,” said Stephen Seche, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Damascus, before snipping the ribbon to the lab and announcing it open.

Thanking the US Government for its generosity, Patric ia McPhillips, Officer-in-Charge of UNRWA Affairs, Syria said, “This lab will provide Palestine refugee children with the knowledge and skills to be able to explore the world of technology for themselves and will open up for them lifelong opportunities for further study and access to a vast array of information on any subject which may interest them”. She also thanked the Syrian Government for its steadfast support for the Agency’s work.

“We thank the US Government for the continued support to the Agency,” said ‘Adnan Munawar, Deputy Director-General of the General Authority for Palestine Arab Refugees (GAPAR).

The United States Government is one of the main donors for UNRWA and contributed consistent support for UNRWA operations. Since 1993, the United States has also donated about US$ 6 million to extra-budgetary projects in Syria, mainly for the high-priority Neirab Rehabilitation Project and the construction of educational and health projects.

Present at the ceremony were Mr ‘Adnan Munawar, Deputy Director-General of GAPAR, US Embassy representatives in Damascus, Mr Mohammed al-Masri, from the Syrian Ministry of Education and staff and students from the school.

UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, is a humanitarian relief and development agency, providing education, health care and social services and emergency relief to over four million registered refugees living in the Syrian Arab Republic, Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan and Lebanon.

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