Rehabilitation of 60-year-old refugee camp shelters begins with UAE Red Crescent support – UNRWA press release

Rehabilitation of 60-year old Shelters Begins With Support From UAE Red Crescent

Aleppo, 28 June 2008 – Mr. Ahmad Sideeq al-Khaga, Director of the Projects and Development Department and Acting Deputy Secretary-General for Projects and Relief at the UAE Red Crescent, laid the foundation stone today for a the construction of a new health clinic and 140 housing units in Neirab Camp, Aleppo.

Under an agreement signed between UNRWA and the UAE Red Crescent Society in Abu Dhabi in April 2008, the UAE donated US$5 million towards the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the camp in the second phase of the Neirab Rehabilitation Project (NRP). Neirab counts over 18,000 refugees. The component funded by the UAE Red Crescent Society is scheduled to be completed in December 2009.

The Neirab Rehabilitation Project, the largest UNRWA project currently under implementation, employs an innovative approach to redevelopment work emphasizing community participation in rehabilitating the 60-year old dilapidated shelters.

Speaking at a ceremony held in Neirab Camp, al-Khaga highlighted the importance of providing humane living conditions and appropriate health care for Palestine refugees. He also affirmed the UAE Red Crescent’s continued commitment to Palestine refugees.

“Your generous donation will be highly appreciated by the refugees”, said Panos Moumtzis, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Syria. Moumtzis underlined that the UAE Red Crescent contribution will provide the necessary resources for officially launching the Neirab Rehabilitation Project.

Ali Mustafa, Director-General of the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees (GAPAR), expressed his gratitude to the UAE Red Crescent and the Syrian Government for their solidarity with Palestine refugees.

The UAE Red Crescent, a national humanitarian and voluntary authority, provides aid and assistance to the weak and needy all over the world. It has also contributed to UNRWA’s efforts in support of Palestine refugees in Syria. Most recently, it donated US$ 780,000 to UNRWA for the construction of a school in Sbeineh Camp, Damascus. In addition, in 2007, it covered medical expenses for open heart surgery for 24 Palestine refugees.

UNRWA is a humanitarian and human development agency providing education, health care, social services, micro-credit and emergency relief to 4.5 million registered refugees living in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In Syria, the Agency provides assistance to over 450,000.

For information only  * Not an official record

For further information please contact: Volker Schimmel

Acting Project Manager

Neirab Rehabilitation Project, Aleppo Office: 021- 4122731

Mobile: 0933725709

Hala Mukhles

Office: 6133035 ext 314 Mobile: 093-416591