Japan extends assistance to UNRWA for three projects for Palestine refugees in Lebanon – Japanese For. Ministry press release/Non-UN document

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Assistance for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

1. The Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance of about $3,720,000 in total to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on December 5 to support its three projects for Palestine refugees in Lebanon and to assist its general budgets in educational and other general fields.

(1) 3 Projects for Palestine refugees in Lebanon to be Assisted (1million dollars in total):

(2) Assistance to UNRWA's Operation and Maintenance Budget (education, health, relief and social services, micro credit and micro enterprise etc.): about $2,720,000

2. In view of the plight of the Palestine refugees, Japan has continuously extended humanitarian assistance through the UNRWA since 1953. Within this year, Japanese Government extended assistance of $1.3million to support Palestinian communities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by empowering the disenfranchised people through the Trust Fund for Human Security in January, $4.67million for the Food Aid Programme for the Palestine Refugees in March and $5.45million for the emergency assistance to improve medical care, public health and job creation on the occasion of the visit by former Prime Minister Koizumi to Palestine and Israel in July.

This assistance is expected to contribute to improving the living conditions of the Palestine refugees who have been in a difficult situation for more than half a century, and to promote peace in the Middle East.