±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Commissioner-General meetings UAERC Chairman in Dubai

المفوّض العام للأونروا يجتمع برئيس مجلس إدارة الهلال الأحمر الإماراتي في دبي

3 April 2012
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A delegation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (±¬ÁÏÍøRWA), led by Commissioner-General Mr. Filippo Grandi, met today with representatives from the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent (UAERC) during a visit to the UAE. In the meeting with UAERC Chairman Mr. Ahmad Humeed Al Mazroui and Advisor for International Relations Dr. Abdel-Karim Bensiali, the UAERC underlined its sustained commitment to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA, noting that for the UAERC, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA continues to be a major partner and the one through which it extends support to Palestine refugees.

During a fruitful meeting, the UAERC and ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA representatives discussed a number of areas of potential future co-operation, including support for school construction in Gaza, a health centre in Jerusalem, and food assistance for poor Palestine refugees in Gaza and Syria, and to those still displaced after the destruction of Nahr el-Bared Camp in northern Lebanon.

The UAERC is a regular contributor to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA’s programmes to feed the poorest Palestine refugees, and a committed supporter of major ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA construction projects, having partnered with the Agency through many initiatives in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

– Ends –

Background information

±¬ÁÏÍøRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for nearly 5 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, pending a solution to their plight. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, social safety-net, camp infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.

±¬ÁÏÍøRWA is funded almost entirely by contributions from States. The Agency’s core budget for 2012-2013 stands at USD 1.33 billion. In 2012, emergency appeals for the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon amounted to USD 344.0 million.

For more information please contact:

Christopher Gunness
±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267

Sami Mshasha
±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724