The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Director of Partnerships Karim Amer urged participants at the VII Brussels conference on ‘Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region’ to include Palestine Refugees in their humanitarian assistance. After 12 years of conflict, COVID-19, the socio-economic crisis and, most recently, the earthquake, Palestine Refugees in Syria are increasingly vulnerable. UNRWA Director of Partnerships Karim Amer said: ‘UNRWA provides essential services like education, healthcare and psychosocial support – to some 438,000 Palestine Refugees who remain in Syria and 50,000 Palestine Refugees who have fled to Jordan and Lebanon. The majority of them live in dire poverty and rely on the Agency’s cash and in-kind food assistance to meet their basic needs.’ This year, UNRWA requires $436.7 million to secure emergency humanitarian assistance to Palestine Refugees affected by the conflict in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan through its Emergency Appeal. The Appeal remains significantly underfunded, with only 16 percent of the required funding received. ‘UNRWA calls for the inclusion of Palestine Refugees in the humanitarian response in Syria and the region to continue our crucial services and avoid any further deterioration in their living conditions. We urgently need to rehabilitate UNRWA schools and health centers for those who return to their camps amidst debris and rubble due to their inability to pay rent outside,’ Amer added. The devastating earthquake that hit the region in February affected almost 50,000 Palestine Refugees. UNRWA issued a flash appeal outlining requirements for $16.2 million to fund the emergency and early recovery response, with $5 million still required.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA