The Republic of Korea announced US$ 2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). US$ 1 million will support the Agency's 2023 Emergency Appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), while the remaining US$ 1 million will rehabilitate UNRWA school buildings, enhancing the educational environment of Palestine Refugee students, including Palestine Refugees from Syria in Jordan.
Reiterating appreciation for the announcement of a new contribution from the Republic of Korea, UNRWA Director of External Relations and Communications, Ms. Tamara Alrifai, said: "The timely pledge of this additional support is a vivid demonstration of South Korea's commitment to UNRWA and Palestine Refugees. At a time of existential funding challenges for the Agency, supporting its vital and life-saving services send a very strong message of solidarity with Palestine Refugees. This is great!"
The Republic of Korea disbursed US$ 1.7 million towards the Agency's Programme Budget earlier this month and has been throughout the years consistently providing support to Palestine Refugees through funding UNRWA Emergency Appeals and projects.
Referencing the decision of the Government of Republic of Korea to provide US$ 2 million to UNRWA in response to the humanitarian needs of Palestine Refugees, Mr. Si-jin Song, the Head of the Representative Office of the Republic of Korea to Palestine, said: "My Government's ever-increasing support for UNRWA demonstrates Korea's commitment to making contribution to permanent peace in the region. I hope this can be helpful in alleviating UNRWA's serious financial challenges and in doing its important works."
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Notes
- The Republic of Korea has been a reliable partner to UNRWA since 1953.
- In the past five years, the total contribution by the Republic of Korea to UNRWA amounted to US$ 6.8 million.
- At the beginning of the year, UNRWA appealed for US$ 1.6 billion for its programmes, operations and emergency response across Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip and Jordan. Insufficient funding to date means that UNRWA may not be able to deliver services from September onwards.
- At the 2023 Pledging Conference for UNRWA at the UN in New York, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini sounded the alarm about the Agency's deepening funding crisis, and warned of the risk of collapse.
UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
