A UNICEF delegation headed by the Global Director of Nutrition and Child Development, Mr Victor Aguayo, visited Burj Barajneh camp on Monday 17 October 2022. The visit highlighted the impact of the economic challenges on food and nutrition security for Palestine Refugees as the Agency continues to provide quality healthcare despite the overarching economic and financial challenges.
The delegation visited the health centre where they were briefed on the living conditions of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon as well as UNRWA activities in particular the Agency's nutrition response amid a severe economic collapse in the country.
The visit spells out the continuous support of UNICEF to support UNRWA in alleviating the hardships of Palestine refugee population, in particular in addressing malnutrition, and more specifically stunting and micronutrient deficiencies amongst the most vulnerable Palestine refugees children and women.
UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA programme budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency's programme budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.7 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.
