European Union Representative Ralf Taraf and the UN Commissioner-General for Near East Affairs (UNRWA) Pierre Krinebol at UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem signed a donation agreement between the European Union and UNRWA in support of the Agency´s program budget for 2009 2019.
Under this agreement, the European Union will provide a vital contribution of € 82 million to support UNRWA´s human development work this year. In the light of the Agency´s continuing financial challenges, the European Union has agreed to provide this funding immediately as soon as the Convention is signed.
The new donation will help to maintain access to education for a total of 532,000 children and provide primary health care to more than 3.5 million patients, as well as assistance to more than 250,000 Palestine refugees at high risk, as well as many other services, The Middle East region is experiencing severe instability.
"We highly appreciate the exemplary commitment shown by the European Union towards preserving the dignity of the Palestine refugees and responding to their needs," said Commissioner-General Pierre Krinebol.
"The generosity and continued cooperation of the European Union deserves the highest praise; it has allowed UNRWA to open its schools on time in 2018-2019 and was a key factor in our successful campaign last year to overcome our existential funding crisis. This critical time. "
"On a daily basis, UNRWA provides Palestine refugees with basic services, including education, health and relief assistance, while promoting socio-economic growth and stability in the Middle East," said EU Representative Ralph Taraf. We are proud to support UNRWA´s work in providing these services to Palestine refugees, which must be seen as an integral part of the EU´s efforts to reach a negotiated two-state solution and a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Peace in the Middle East ".
"The EU´s commitment to Palestine refugees includes unprecedented support for the Agency´s education program through its Healthy Lives and Healthy Spaces campaign.
In 2018 alone, the EU rehabilitated some 65 UNRWA facilities, including schools and health centers in the Middle East.
