The Government of Japan signed yesterday a contribution agreement worth $22.4 million with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), aimed at reinforcing the Agency’s services to Palestinian refugees in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Of the total donation, the UNRWA said, more than $4.2 million will support UNRWA in Syria for 2020, and $7.6 million are allocated to the Agency's Emergency Response for Humanitarian Assistance in 2020 in Gaza. Further, $2.8 million will be allocated to support Palestinian refugee families by creating more than 2,000 temporary job opportunities in Gaza as part of the Emergency Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Additional funds will be allocated towards the delivery of health services in Syria and Lebanon and basic education services in Lebanon and Jordan, including technical and educational vocational training (TVET).
"I am glad that this contribution supports UNRWA's important activities in all five areas of its operations. This contribution demonstrates Japan's strong commitment to support UNRWA and its essential operations to assist Palestine refugees," Masayuki Magoshi, Representative of Japan to Palestine, said.
Acting Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Christian Saunders, said, "The Government of Japan's support to UNRWA is extremely timely and generous. It's this kind of support that is particularly useful to the Agency as it allows UNRWA to advance in several very critical areas including health, education, our emergency humanitarian response program and sustainable development."
In 2019, Japan was the 8th largest contributor to UNRWA, playing a critical role for the Agency's financial stability.
SOURCE: WAFA
