The Kingdome of the Netherlands contributed US$ 2.3 million to support the education of Palestine refugee from Syria children in Jordan. The contribution includes support for the rehabilitation and maintenance of 82 buildings housing 141 schools, in addition to the provision of furniture and educational tools. The contribution also supported the provision of 1500 school-kits, including bags and stationary, to Palestine refugee students displaced with their families from Syria and attending UNRWA schools in Jordan.
At a ceremony held at Zarqa Preparatory Girls School to mark the contribution, HE Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Jordan said: “Safeguarding UNRWA’s ability to sustain service provision to its vulnerable target groups in Jordan and those arriving from Syria is important for the Netherlands. In addition, we in Jordan, are particularly focusing on their children as they are the future and need to have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential. Therefore, one of our core priorities of our program is to secure access to quality education in safe spaces. Throughout several interventions the Netherlands aims at protecting this increasingly vulnerable group of Palestinian Refugees from Syria from dangers of exploitation in difficult times.”
Affirming the importance of UNRWA role in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need, the Ambassador said: “We are honored to contribute to the maintenance and rehabilitation of 82 UNRWA schools, provide for school materials as well as teachers’ salaries. I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the UNRWA-office for all the efforts exerted at providing a dignified life to the people who have been entrusted to them.
HE Ambassador Barbara also highlighted Netherlands’ support to UNRWA across the region, stating: “Also in 2018, the Netherlands’ overall contribution to UNRWA continues to support a great number of refugees. Over the last years, NL contribution to UNRWA in Gaza, West Bank, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan is around EUR 20 million on average per year.”
Speaking at the ceremony the Director of UNRWA Operations in Jordan, Roger Davis, expressed his gratitude to the Kingdome of the Netherlands, saying: “The long-lasting successful partnership and support by Netherlands to Palestine refugees is fundamental at a time when UNRWA continues to reach to its traditional donors as part of its Dignity Is Priceless global campaign. This donation have enabled UNRWA in Jordan to rehabilitate and maintain over eighty per cent of its schools, at a time when UNRWA is experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis. The new educational tools will enable students to experiment with and learn advanced technological and communication skills.
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