UNRWA praises Qatar’s support for Palestinian refugees

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has praised the State of Qatar for the continued support aimed at alleviating the suffering of Palestinian refugees. Speaking to Qatari Arabic daily “Arrayah” today, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Filippo Grandi said Qatar is a major supporter of “UNRWA” s mission to help improve the living conditions for some 5 million registered Palestine refugees in its five areas of operation in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israel has paid USD 10 million in compensation to the United Nations for bombing its facilities during the offensive on Gaza Strip in 2008, said Grandi. On rumors that UNRWA was planning to teach about the Holocaust in its schools in Gaza, Grandi said there was lot of exaggeration about this issue, adding that since ten years the agency’s schools have developed a human rights curriculum. “Part of what we’re now trying to do is to update our curriculum but a final decision had not yet been made,” the UN official explained. About the cooperation between the UNRWA and the Arabic countries, Grandi pointed to an Arab League resolution that member states should provide at least 7.7 per cent of the agency’s general budget. Arab states’ contributions stand at only 1.5 per cent, he added. On the situation of Palestinian Refugees in Jordan, Grandi described it as “the best” compare to the other areas of operations , Grandi went on saying, noting with appreciation the support provided by the Jordanian government in this regard. Responding to UNRWA’s appeal for $345 million for its Quick Response Plan for Gaza, the government of Qatar has allocated USD 10 million for UNRWA out of USD40 million which it is donating to the UN as a whole. Established by United Nations General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, UNRWA aims to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations on 1 May 1950. UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some 5 million registered Palestine refugees in the Middle East. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief, camp infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.