The Government of Japan announced a contribution of US$ 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to support the provision of vital services for Palestine refugees affected by the conflict in Syria. This generous additional contribution from Japan will provide Palestine refugees from Syria health support and emergency cash and food assistance, among other services, through UNRWA’s operations in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, welcomed this timely support: “We deeply appreciate this generous donation from the Government of Japan during this time of urgent need. The US$ 409 million Syria emergency appeal the Agency launched earlier this year remains largely underfunded. This vital support will enable UNRWA to provide emergency aid to Palestinian refugee families affected by the war in Syria.”
Japan has long been a valued donor to UNRWA. In 2017 alone Japan contributed a total of US$ 43.3 million, including some US$ 23 million to the Agency’s core programmes and services, US$ 8.7 million to support the Agency’s emergency programmes in Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, and US$ 11.5 million for essential projects.
Japan was among the top 7 donors and, since 1973, has been a member of the UNRWA Advisory Commission, which advises and assists the UNRWA Commissioner-General in carrying out the Agency’s mandate.
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 5.4 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem 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