The Arab Partners Update is a periodical publication from UNRWA’s External Relations Department (ERD) in Amman. The Update reports on UNRWA’s latest news and events related to the Arab world. It focuses on the latest generous contributions from our Arab partners and summarises UNRWA’s newest programmes and initiatives along with featuring the agency’s major needs. The Update is intended for distribution to our donors, our partner NGOs, other UN Agencies and departments as well as UNRWA’s staff.

The 2011 Regional Response Plan for Iraqi Refugees builds on the 2010 process, and aims to provide a strategic framework for responding to the immediate needs of Iraqi refugees in twelve countries: Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It represents the efforts made by all agencies to agree about common objectives, enhance coordination and ensure complementarity in responding to the needs of Iraqi refugees in the region.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- During December, a series of attacks targeting Shiite pilgrims traveling for the Ashoura festival occurred throughout Iraq. In addition, sectarian violence in early November displaced dozens of Christian families from Baghdad and Mosul to governorates in northern Iraq, joining others displaced by sectarian violence earlier in the year and bringing the total to nearly 900 displaced families, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). With USAID/OFDA funding, IOM distributed basic relief supplies to as many as 470 families, or more

GA/11032
PAL/2138

Ad Hoc Committee for Voluntary
Contributions to UNRWA
1st Meeting (AM)

Stressing the international community's responsibility to address the needs of Palestinian refugees and expressing alarm over the chronic funding shortfall of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) set up to support them, 20 donors this morning pledged approximately $214 million to UNRWA for 2011, and several more indicated their contributions would be forthcoming.

Donors made their pledges during a meeting

Towards a Brighter Future

6 December 2010

Doha

Al Jazeera Children's Channel today concluded an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) that will give unique learning opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children across the Middle East.

The new initiative will involve the use of the educational website Taalam.TV, launched by Al Jazeera Children's Channel in January 2010, across UNRWA schools in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. As part of an agreement

While human rights groups draw attention to torture and other violations in Iraqi prisons, the necessity of providing mental health services and other resources for victims of torture is generally overlooked. The NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI) spoke with representatives at the Amman branch of the Center for Victims of Torture (http//www.cvt.org) about its role as a non-profit, mental health services provider for Iraqi survivors of torture and trauma who currently live in Jordan as refugees.

NCCI: Can you describe to us the Center

Introduction

The Elders, a group of eminent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, made their second collective visit to the Middle East from 15-22 October 2010. Mary Robinson led the Elders' delegation composed of Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi and Jimmy Carter. The aim of their visit was to encourage peace efforts, with an emphasis on the need to reach "a just and secure peace for all" based on international law.

The Elders began their trip in Egypt and travelled to Gaza, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank. This long-planned

This is a summary of what was said by the UNHCR spokesperson at today's Palais des Nations press briefing in Geneva. Further information can be found on the UNHCR websites, www.unhcr.org and www.unhcr.fr, which should also be checked for regular media updates on non-briefing days.

A poll of Iraqis who have returned to Baghdad from neighbouring countries found that physical insecurity, economic hardship and a lack of basic public services has led the majority to regret

The reason for this appeal revision is that NCA's work in Iraq has faced constraining challenges in 2010, mainly due to funding concerns. However this revision is still in the spirit of and within the context of the original proposal. The "Changemaker" part of the original proposal has been removed, and the appeal now focuses on youth and the training of trainers in hygiene awareness in relation to youth centers.

The MECC component of the appeal has also been extended to end of June 2011 to accommodate a recent pledge of