The Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD) has contributed EUR 100.000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to provide psychological support to 1028 Palestine refugee children in Gaza thorough its Community Mental Health Program (CMHP).
As a result of traumatic experiences suffered during the 2014 Gaza hostilities and the effects of the protracted blockade of Gaza, mental health concerns and psychological difficulties feature prominently across the population, as manifested in stress-related symptoms, depression, anxiety, and difficulties at school and within homes. For children, in particular, this can manifest in increased aggression, irritability, or not willing to participate in group activities, for example. As part of the CMHP, counsellors identify and support children who are experiencing more serious psychological problems and protection threats through individual and targeted group interventions. Complemented by parent education sessions, this intervention promotes a holistic to child and family well-being.
The contribution by ACCD will cover the salaries of 13 therapists and three facilitators for a period of three months to support 299 children in UNRWA schools in Gaza. In addition, 429 children will benefit from group therapies and 300 more children from orientation sessions.
“We welcome this contribution by the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation. It will support important work to alleviate the deep psychological trauma experienced by so many children in Gaza. ACCD’s commitment to UNRWA’s psychological interventions will contribute to improve the well-being and resilience of the most vulnerable population affected by the repeated cycles of conflict and the blockade,” says the Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, Matthias Schmale, in accepting this contribution.
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