UNRWA receives donation from UNDP staff association in Syria – Press release

UNDP Staff Association in Syria raises SYP 910,000

for UNRWA's emergency programmes in the West Bank and Gaza

UNRWA today received a donation of SYP 910,000 (US$ 19,782.61) from the local and international staff of UN agencies and diplomatic missions in Syria for the Agency's emergency relief and reconstruction activities in refugee camps in the occupied Palestinian territories, where recent fighting has left deep structural and human scars.

Tawfiq Ben Amara, UN Resident Co-ordinator in Syria and UNDP Representative, presented the contribution to Angela Williams, Director of UNRWA Affairs, Syria. It was the fruit of a month-long fundraising campaign launched in April by the UNDP Staff Association in Syria, under the slogan "Save the Jenin Camp".

Mrs Williams thanked the Association for its generous initiative. "This gift is further evidence of widespread concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza. It also testifies to the trust which the Syrian people place in the United Nations, and to the co-operation among the UN organizations in Syria. UNRWA will faithfully use the donation to assist Palestinians who have been injured and disabled, families who have lost their breadwinner or their home, and children who have been traumatized by the violence they have experienced." A report on the use of money will be given to the UNDP Staff Association.

Following Israel's recent offensive on towns, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank, UNRWA has had to expand its emergency operations and is co-ordinating the relief and reconstruction effort in Jenin and other camps. Tents, kitchen kits and emergency cash assistance were provided to some 800 refugee families – approximately 3,500 people – whose homes were destroyed. The Agency is now developing detailed plans for the rebuilding of refugee housing and infrastructure in the destroyed centre of the camp, following search and rescue work, munitions disposal, and safeguarding of structures still standing.

UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, provides education, health and social services to some 3.9 million Palestine refugees, of whom almost 1.5 million live in the West Bank and Gaza. In a crisis, emergency assistance is offered to both refugee and non-refugee Palestinians in need.

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