EU CONTINUES ITS SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT TO PALESTINE REFUGEES FROM SYRIA LIVING IN JORDAN
30 July 2015
The European Union (EU) has donated EUR 2 million (US$ 2.2 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support the Agency’s emergency response for Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) living in Jordan. The donation will help the Agency to preserve the resilience and mitigate the vulnerability of PRS in Jordan. The EU and UNRWA signed a Joint Declaration for 2014-2016 that foresees a core EU contribution during these years of some EUR 246 million (US$ 270.6 million), depending on funds available in the annual EU budget.
"This long standing partnership between the EU and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be better educated, to live healthier lives, to access employment opportunities and to improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of the entire region,” said Joanna Wronecka, the EU Ambassador to Jordan.
“This timely donation will help to reduce the financial deficit of the emergency appeal for PRS in Jordan,” said Roger Davies, the UNRWA Director of Operations in Jordan. “It will enable us to provide roughly 80 per cent of Palestine refugees from Syria who are recorded with the Jordan Field Office with cash assistance to meet essential food and non-food item (NFI) needs, as well as emergency cash grants and access to basic education.” However, while this contribution from the EU will provide urgently needed support for Palestine refugees, the UNRWA General Fund deficit still stands at US$ 101 million.
THE EU AND UNRWA PARTNERSHIP
The European Union is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees, providing crucial and reliable support to UNRWA since 1971. Between 2007 and 2014, the European Union contributed over EUR 1 billion (US$ 1.44 billion) in support of UNRWA, including US$ 906 million to the General Fund. In addition, the EU has generously contributed to UNRWA humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. EU Member States provide additional crucial support to the Agency. The partnership between the EU and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be better educated, live healthier lives, access employment opportunities and improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of the entire region. In June this year, the EU has contributed EUR 82 million towards the UNRWA General Fund.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, and financial support has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees and deepening poverty. As a result, the UNRWA General Fund, which supports core essential services and most staffing costs, operates with a large deficit. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large deficits, 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 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
Document Sources: European Union (EU), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Country: Jordan, Syria
Subject: Armed conflict, Assistance, Humanitarian relief, Middle East situation, Refugee camps, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 30/07/2015