UNRWA wins prestigious “Khalil Jibran Spirit of Humanity” award – UNRWA press release

PRESS RELEASE
23 April 2009

UNRWA WINS PRESTIGIOUS “KAHLIL JIBRAN SPIRIT OF HUMANITY” AWARD

Jerusalem, 23 April, 2009: The Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF) will today present this year’s 2009 “Kahlil Jibran Spirit of Humanity Award for International Commitment” to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This is one of three Kahlil Gibran awards that will go also to the Marshall Legacy Institute and to Dr. Elias A. Zerhoui.

The award, which was launched ten years ago, recognizes individuals, corporations, organizations and communities whose work, commitment and support makes a difference in promoting coexistence and inclusion in all walks of life. Through this prize, the AAIF aims to promote the positive effects of diversity and cultural interaction and to showcase programs that foster democratic and humanitarian values across racial, ethnic and religious lines.

Announcing the award, AAIF President James Zogby said, “During the recent conflict in Gaza, UNRWA’s humanitarian mission was tested at all levels and was the principal source of relief and recovery for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians affected by the hostilities. UNRWA staff worked tirelessly, often at grave personal risk, during the attacks. Since the ceasefire they have been working to restore education and primary health care, providing emergency food aid, cash assistance and job creation programs, repairing civilian homes and UNRWA facilities and offering psycho-social support to the most traumatized Gazans, including children in UNRWA schools.”

Welcoming the announcement, UNRWA Commissioner General, Karen Koning AbuZayd, paid tribute to her colleagues. “We have nearly ten thousand staff in Gaza who showed extraordinary bravery and commitment during and after the fighting. It is due to their courage that throughout the conflict we were able to continue with our food distributions to hundreds of thousands of the most needy and health care to the sick and the dying. Now the military campaign is over, we remain committed to our non-emergency, human development work.” AbuZayd said the Kahlil Jibran award recognises the commitment of all UNRWA staff. “Gaza has been in the headlines, but do not forget that we have thousands more staff working in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It is on behalf of all of them that I accept this award.”

UNRWA, which is sixty years old this year, provides education, healthcare, relief and social services as well as micro-finance opportunities to Palestine refugees, some 4.6 million of whom are registered with the Agency. As the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, UNRWA staff, almost all Palestine refugees, work directly to benefit their communities. Through its human development work, the Agency offers self-reliance and dignity, promoting stability and UN values of impartiality and humanity in a volatile region.