The Government of Japan has contributed US$ 38.21 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The contribution was confirmed earlier today in an agreement jointly signed by Ambassador Takeshi Okubo from the Representative Office of Japan to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Sandra Mitchell at the Agency’s Kalandia training center in Ramallah.
This donation marks the largest ever one-time contribution from Japan to UNRWA. Of the total contribution, US$ 15 million will support the Agency’s health and education services and emergency humanitarian assistance efforts in the Gaza Strip; US$ 20.87 million will go towards improving and expanding the capacity of the Agency’s education and health programmes in the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria; and US$ 2.34 million will support the construction of a sewerage network in Aqbat Jabr refugee camp in the West Bank. The network will be connected to the Jericho wastewater treatment plant constructed by Japanese Grant Aid and supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The construction of sewerage network will also be done in collaboration with JICA.
“This support will go a long way in providing for the education and health needs of Palestine refugees throughout the region and ensuring that refugees in Gaza will have the food, shelter and employment opportunities they need to endure the challenges stemming from repeated conflict, chronic poverty and a crippling blockade,” said Sandra Mitchell. “We are deeply grateful to Japan, not only for this generous contribution, but also for their long-standing friendship with UNRWA. For decades, this dynamic and steadfast partnership has been critical in improving the living conditions and prospects of Palestine refugees.”
Mr. Okubo, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to the PA said: “Assistance to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA has always been one of the pillars of the Japan’s peace efforts in the region. Palestinian refugees in West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria still need robust support from the international community, especially in Gaza and Syria in light of the severe socioeconomic conditions facing them. Therefore, the Government of Japan is determined to continue its assistance to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA.”
He also added: “Japan has recently decided to provide the new package of assistance amounting to US$ 78.2 million to the Palestinians, including the above-mentioned assistance through UNRWA as was announced during the visit of President Abbas to Japan this month. With this new assistance, the total value of Japanese assistance extended to the Palestinian people exceeds US$ 1.7 billion since 1993.”
Japan has long been a valued donor to UNRWA. Last November, the Commissioner-General met with Japanese Prime Minister H.E. Shinzo Abe during his visit to Tokyo, where he expressed his profound gratitude for Japan’s continued support to Palestine refugees and to the Agency’s human development activities. In 2015, the Government of Japan contributed a total of US$ 39.20 million, including US$ 19.75 million to the Agency’s core programmes and services, US$ 14.20 million to support the Agency’s emergency programmes in Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, and US$ 5.25 million for food assistance for abject-poor Palestine refugees.
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, projected for 2016 to stand at US$ 81 million. 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, 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)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org