Qatar teams up with UNRWA to provide $25mn aid for Palestinian Refugees

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani witnessing the signing of the agreements by HE the Director General of Qatar Fund for Development Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari , and the Commissioner-General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini.

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met Tuesday with HE The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, who is currently visiting the country. During the meeting, they reviewed the cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs , who is also the Chairman of the Qatar Fund for Development witnessed the signing of two agreements between the Fund and UNRWA to provide financial support with a total value of $25 million, including support for the activities of the United Nations over two years, in addition to support for Palestinian refugees in Syria in several sectors, as part of Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal (EA) by the UNRWA . The two agreements were signed for Qatar by HE the Director General of Qatar Fund for Development Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari , and for UNRWA by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini. The first agreement provided for supporting UNRWA's core resources with an amount of $18 million, with the aim of strengthening the agency's role in protecting the rights of Palestinian refugees. This agreement is to ensure that the Agency continues to provide its services and to enhance its role in improving the conditions of the Palestinian people in Palestine and in the host countries. While the second agreement includes providing comprehensive support to Palestinian refugees in Syria in the sectors of health, education and economic development, with an amount of $7 million , serving 355,980 beneficiaries of Palestinian refugees. The agreement in the economic empowerment sector includes emergency cash assistance for Palestinian refugees affected by the conflict in Syria, with a total value of $4 million for a period of 12 months, for the benefit of 52,000 beneficiaries. In addition to enhancing training in the field of technical and vocational education for Palestinian refugees in Syria, while providing vocational opportunities, with a total value of $1.5 million for a period of (24) months for the benefit of (2,125) beneficiaries. The agreement also focuses on supporting the education sector and ensuring the continuation of providing basic education services to Palestinian refugee students in Syria at a value of $1 million for a period of (12) months, for the benefit of 51,000 beneficiaries. In addition, the agreement is concerned with supporting the health sector, by providing primary and secondary health care services in Syria at a value of $500,000 for a period of (12) months, for the benefit of (250,855) beneficiaries. In general, UNRWA's activities are based on assisting and protecting the Palestinian refugees registered on its lists. Its mission is to assist Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to obtain the right to human development, while awaiting a just and comprehensive solution to their cause. UNRWA's services include education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure, financing and emergency aid.