Occupied Jerusalem: United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has welcomed the $50 million (Dh183 million) contribution announced upon the directives of the President of the UAE, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The move comes as UNRWA faces the most serious financial crisis in its history.
UNRWA is a relief and human development agency that supports more than 5.4 million Palestine refugees in the Middle East.
Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl commended the decision, saying: “The UAE is a valued and dynamic partner, standing with UNRWA and for the dignity and rights of Palestine refugees. I am immensely grateful for this outstanding announcement, which confirms the UAE’s commitment to our mandate and the preservation of hope for Palestine refugees.”
Krahenbuhl added: “I would like to take this opportunity to honour the UAE on the occasion of the ‘Year of Zayed’, marking a centenary since the birth of its founding father, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”
Since its establishment in 1972, the UAE has been a consistent supporter of the UNRWA education programme. Its funding has grown significantly in recent years and allowed to keep schools open and preserve access to education for 526,000 girls and boys - among them 270,000 in the Gaza Strip alone.
“The UAE is an ardent supporter of UNRWA and the life-saving work that the organisation accomplishes for the Palestinian people. We pledge to provide an additional $50 million to mainly support UNRWA’s education and health-care activities,” said Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy.
The partnership plays an important role in empowering Palestine refugee youth, developing skills and preserving opportunities.The UAE’s trust in the agency is a source of encouragement and incentive to strive for innovation and creativity.
“We believe that the agency’s strategic human development priorities and humanitarian activities are fit for the purposes to help Palestine refugees acquire knowledge and skills, lead long and healthy lives, achieve decent standards of living and enjoy human rights to the fullest possible extent. This assistance to UNRWA aligns with the UAE’s foreign assistance policy and its prioritisation of rights to children, to education, to women’s empowerment and support and vocational training to teachers,” said Al Hashimy.
UNRWA also enjoys strong partnerships with Dubai Cares and the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, in addition to other institutions in the UAE. The Agency looks forward to further developing this essential cooperation.
