22 March 2012
Jerusalem
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) signed an agreement today with the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), German federal agency financing economic and social progress, which will contribute EUR 3 million to construct two new schools in the Gaza Strip.
Announcing the donation at a signing ceremony in Jerusalem today, the Director of KfW Office in Amman, Ms. Bettina Tewinkel, said: “Living conditions of children and youth in Gaza are deeply affected by the extremely difficult situation in the Gaza strip. On behalf of the German Government and together with our partner, UNRWA, KfW’s engagement aims at improving the learning opportunities for young people. I am happy that by today’s signing of the agreement, we have taken a significant step forward to achieve this goal.”
The German funds will help UNRWA to expand its education programme, which already provides free schooling for over 218,000 students in Gaza, and almost half a million children across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. With one of the largest school systems in the Middle East, UNRWA provides a high-quality education that includes pioneering curriculum in human rights and tolerance.
Welcoming the contribution, Ms. Marina Skuric-Prodanovic, Officer in Charge of the Department External Relations and communications of UNRWA, said: “We are very grateful that Germany continues to provide support to the Palestine refugees despite global challenges. KfW’s contribution towards the construction of the two new schools in Gaza, which will be used by 4,400 children, will further strengthen UNRWA’s efforts to provide education to young Palestine refugees.”
As the tenth-largest donor to UNRWA and a member of its Advisory Commission, Germany increased its annual support for the UN agency last year to EUR 16.4 million (US$ 23.5). Over the past decade, Germany has funded EUR 101.1 million worth of UNRWA projects across its five fields of operation.
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Background information
UNRWA 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.
UNRWA 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
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org
Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org
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