John Ging to open “Summer Games in Gaza” photo exhibition in New York – UNRWA article

John Ging to open “Summer Games in Gaza” photo exhibition in New York

25 November 2010
New York

On 29 November, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will inaugurate a photo exhibition on Gaza’s Summer Games at the UN Headquarters, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. This exhibition has been made possible thanks to the support of the Government of Finland.

The exhibition will present extraordinary and unusual images of children of Gaza enjoying UNRWA’s annual Summer Games programme. It will also feature information about the hardships faced by Gaza’s inhabitants. UNRWA’s Summer Games is an unprecedented initiative in its nature and scale that brings joy, education and relief to some 250,000 children, most of them refugees, in the Gaza Strip.

In the words of some parents,

“Our children are deprived of everything in this world, but the summer camp provides a moment of happiness.”

“The situation being what it is here, children and families really need a break… The kids see so much…So these kinds of activities really help them psychologically and encourage their talents. As you can see, here the kids can play, and laugh, and be happy…”

John Ging, Director of UNRWA’s Field Office in Gaza will travel to New York for the opening. He will be joined by the Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations, who serves as Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Permanent Representative of Finland and the Permanent Observer of Palestine. The ceremony will take place at the visitors lobby of the General Assembly at 6pm.

The photo exhibit will be on display for the general public until mid-January. 

–ENDS–

For those interested in attending the opening of the exhibition and/or more information, please contact Ms Noemi Becerra (212) 963 22 54 becerran@un.org.

For further information about UNRWA’s human development work, free images and video that can be used without copyright restriction, please visit www.peacestartshere.org