EU has donated EUR 2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support the Agency’s emergency response for Palestinian refugees from Syria living in Jordan. The donation will help the Agency to preserve the resilience and mitigate the vulnerability of refugees 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 timely donation will help to reduce the financial deficit of the emergency appeal for Palestinian refugees from Syria in Jordan,” said Roger Davies, the UNRWA Director of Operations in Jordan.
“It will enable us to provide roughly 80 per cent of Palestinian refugees from Syria who are recorded with the Jordan Field Office with cash assistance to meet essential food and non-food item 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 Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA General Fund deficit still stands at US$ 101 million. The fund supports core essential services and most staffing costs.
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.
EU is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestinian refugees since 1971. Between 2007 and 2014, EU contributed over EUR 1 billion in support of UNRWA.
In addition, the EU has contributed to UNRWA humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. EU Member States provide additional support to the Agency.
M.Apelblat
The Brussels Times
