Today, the Ambassador of Japan to Lebanon, H.E. Matahiro Yamaguchi, and the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Claudio Cordone, announced the signature of an agreement for a US$ 3 million contribution from the Government of Japan to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Lebanon. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Palestinian Ambassador in Lebanon, Ashraf Dabbour.
The contribution goes towards the Agency’s humanitarian response to Ein El Hilweh camp following the clashes that took place in August 2017. UNRWA has been coordinating the humanitarian emergency response with partners, including the Japanese Government and the European Union, in order to respond to the immediate needs of families affected by the violence.
The Japanese contribution allows UNRWA to provide emergency assistance including restoring basic infrastructure and rehabilitation of houses most damaged by the clashes.
Mr. Cordone thanked Japan for the contribution and said: “The recurrent hardship faced by Palestine refugees in Ein El Hilweh is extreme as many have lost their houses and livelihoods and have to endure displacement and instability. We are thankful for this contribution from the Japanese government, which will be critical in providing the most pressing needs of the displaced refugees.”
The Japanese Ambassador highlighted the importance of the project in helping people who suffered from the recent clashes to resume normal life activities and said: “The Government of Japan is donating US$ 3 million through UNRWA to provide cash assistance and help rehabilitate houses that were damaged by the Ein El Hilweh clashes.” He added: “Japan is strongly committed to support the Palestine Refugees in Lebanon living in difficult circumstances.”
The Palestinian Ambassador in Lebanon, Ashraf Dabbour, expressed his gratitude saying: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Japan for its constant support to the Palestinian people in the international community and for helping decrease the suffering of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.”
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. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. 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, protection 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
c.gunness@unrwa.org
Sami Mshasha
Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)258 90724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org
Huda Samra
Communications Advisor – Lebanon (Arabic and Francophone)
Mobile: +961 81 666 134
h.samra@unrwa.org