Qatari delegation visits Al Fakhoura project with UNRWA in Gaza – UNRWA press release



QATARI DELEGATION VISITS AL FAKHOURA PROJECT WITH UNRWA IN GAZA


03 February 2016

Following a generous donation of approximately US$ 4.6 million by the Qatar-based Al Fakhoora, a programme of Education Above All Foundation, to UNRWA to undertake maintenance and repair activities across 43 UNRWA schools in Gaza, a delegation from the Qatar Development Fund paid a visit to the UNRWA Al Fakhoora school in North Gaza on 2 February. The delegation was led by executive manager Mr. Ali Al Dabagh and included various representatives from Al Fakhoora Education Programme. Together with UNRWA senior staff members, they attended a presentation about the Al Fakhoora project with UNRWA and enjoyed a small photo exhibition covering the situation of the schools before and during the 2014 conflict, including photos of internally displaced persons. The photos captured the damage inflicted on the schools and the maintenance and repair works undertaken through the project.

“UNRWA thanks Qatar Development Fund and Al Fakhoora for their support for this important project that allows UNRWA students to return back to a safe environment to receive quality education,” commented Melinda Young, Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, during the visit.

The 43 UNRWA schools supported by Al Fakhoora had been used as Designated Emergency Shelters during the 2014 conflict in Gaza; many subsequently served as Collective Centres to accommodate the extended displacement. Throughout the 2014 July/August hostilities, dedicated UNRWA staff provided humanitarian assistance to over 290,000 displaced persons in 90 of 156 UNRWA school buildings, with the remaining school buildings either unsafe or damaged. UNRWA schools were not designed to perform as shelters for thousands of persons; hence, most of them required repair and construction works after the internally displaced persons had transitioned to private shelters, many  with the help of UNRWA.

All the 43 schools supported by Al Fakhoora will benefit from repair works as well as other items according to individual school needs; this assistance package includes items such as generators, desks, laptops, water pumps and other school equipment.

During their visit to the UNRWA Al Fakhoora school, the Qatari delegation also engaged with several internally displaced families whose youth are benefitting from the Al Fakhoora Dynamic Future Programme for university students in Gaza.While the youths expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the Dynamic Future Programme to delegation members, the displaced families also talked about their difficult experience and their suffering during the hostilities, including the loss of their homes, and reflected on the UNRWA assistance they received throughout this time.

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$ 81 million. 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, 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

Milina Shahin

Public Information Officer – Gaza Field Office

Mobile:

+972 599 609 485

Office:

+972 8 2887213


2019-03-12T18:59:21-04:00

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