OPT: Aid for Palestinian refugees in Gaza
Germany is helping people in need in the Gaza Strip. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier pledged 1 million euro for emergency medical aid in the Gaza Strip to Karen Koning AbuZayd, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worrying. It is difficult to supply the people there with food and medicines. According to UNRWA 80% of the population of the Gaza Strip therefore rely on international food aid.
UNRWA is Germany's most important partner in the region, and cooperation between them is close and trusting. Steinmeier thanked Ms AbuZayd for her organization's valuable contribution on the ground.
Ms AbuZayd paid tribute to Germany's financial support both for the agency's general budget and for individual projects.
The Federal Foreign Office will provide 7 million euro for UNRWA's budget in 2008. To this will be added 1 million euro in earmarked funds for emergency medical care in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian assistance also in Lebanon
In Lebanon the Federal Foreign Office plans to channel up to 2 million euro to UNRWA to fund a new training centre for young Palestinians.
Some 408,000 people are currently living in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon – many of them have been there for the past 50 years. There are similar camps in Gaza, the West Bank and Jordan. All in all, some 4.45 million Palestinian refugees are registered at present with the UN.
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Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Country: Germany
Subject: Assistance, Gaza Strip, Humanitarian relief, Refugee camps, Refugees and displaced persons, Situation in Lebanon
Publication Date: 24/04/2008