UNRWA AND LOCAL PARTNERS INAUGURATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN EIN EL-SULTAN
23 August 2016
On Tuesday, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and local partners marked the inauguration of an infrastructure project targeting one of the main streets in Ein el-Sultan camp located in Jericho in the West Bank.
The ceremony was attended by Director of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank Scott Anderson; Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary-General Dr. Saeb Erekat; Jericho Governor Majed Fitiani; representatives from the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Camp Services Committee and a number of other local community representatives.
Marking the occasion, Mr. Anderson said: "I am very pleased to inaugurate this joint project, which improves the conditions of the camp and the well-being of the refugees in Ein el-Sultan through the participation of multiple stakeholders."
Other speeches highlighting the importance of the partnership with UNRWA were also delivered during the ceremony. The head of the Camp Services Committee in Ein el-Sultan, Yousef Manasrah, expressed his thanks to UNRWA, stressing the importance of implementing employment projects and consulting with UNRWA to provide refugees with the best services.
Governor Fitiani said: “We express our thanks to UNRWA for this care despite the financial crisis it suffers. We work with UNRWA as partners according to its mandate.”
Secretary-General Erekat expressed his thanks to UNRWA on behalf of the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, for implementing its mandate towards Palestine refugees. “UNRWA is a real partner to the Palestinian people and we should deal with UNRWA as a full partner in our work according to its mandate,” he said.
The Representative of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Samer Barham, said: “The achievement of this project is a result of the efforts and cooperation exerted by UNRWA, the camp committee and our Ministry. Thus, we are able to secure safety for our students.”
The purpose of the project is to improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of Palestine refugees living in Ein el-Sultan camp through the rehabilitation of the camp’s infrastructure, including a main road that leads to the nearby UNRWA school. The project also includes the construction of sidewalks and guard rails near the school to make it safer for attending students.
This intervention is part of broader infrastructure rehabilitation efforts by the West Bank Field Office’s Food Security Unit, which are currently being implemented in refugee camps throughout the West Bank. These projects aim to enhance the camps’ environmental and living conditions by improving the infrastructure in public areas and for community-based organizations.
All of the tools and materials required for the rehabilitation project were provided by the UNRWA Cash-for-Work (CFW) Programme, with the Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing contributing to its implementation and planning. Through the project, UNRWA was also able to provide 12 job opportunities for eligible refugees from food-insecure households in Ein el-Sultan.
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, projected for 2016 to stand at US$ 96.5 million. 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
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Assistance
Publication Date: 23/08/2016