Indonesia Supports UN Palestinian Refugee Agency in Financial Crisis

Jakarta, MINA — The Indonesian government continues to support education programs being implemented by the United Nations Refugee Work and Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) despite the organization being in the midst of a financial crisis.

A statement from the Palestinian Political Function at the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, Nico Adam, through a short message received by Antara here on Tuesday noted that Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan Andy Rachmianto and other state ambassadors as well as UNRWA General Commissioner Pierre Krähenbühl had recently visited a school managed by UNRWA in a refugee camp.

On the occasion, Krähenbühl . expressed hope that UNRWA students and teachers would remain focused on teaching and learning activities and not harbor concerns over the news on the financial crisis faced by the UN organization being circulated through mass media.

“All students and teachers are expected to focus on learning and teaching and not be affected by media coverage on the crisis faced by UNRWA. I will find other funding alternatives to ensure the continuation of the UNRWA education program for Palestinian refugees,” Krähenbühl . emphasized.

The UNRWA school, located in a refugee camp in Amman City, Jordan, was established in 1955 and is one of the oldest UNRWA schools in Jordan.

Krähenbühl`s statement demonstrates UNRWA`s commitment to continue teaching and learning activities in schools in accordance with the new school year in Jordan.

Krähenbühl . stressed that there was no reason to be apprehensive about the continuation of school operations despite facing difficult conditions, since providing educational facilities and services for Palestinian refugee children remains one of the basic commitments of the UNRWA.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Rachmianto made assurance to Kr?henb?hl that Indonesia will also contribute to raise funds for UNRWA`s operations and urge other countries to pay greater attention to UNRWA.

Supporting the Palestinian struggle for independence is a priority agenda of Indonesia`s foreign policy.

Support for Palestine will continue to be voiced through Indonesia`s membership as one of the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

In 2018, Indonesia`s financial support to UNRWA from the government, private sectors, universities, and philanthropists has reached US$1.3 million.

#Dignityispriceless campaign

Currently, a plan to launch #Dignityispriceless campaign is being explored by the UNRWA in collaboration with the Indonesian National Islamic Alms (zakat) Agency (BAZNAS) in order to garner support from Indonesian people for Palestinian refugees.

We hope that a sense of solidarity and generosity among the Indonesian people would help our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Ambassador Rachmianto remarked.

The UNRWA is a UN agency established on May 1, 1950. This agency has a mandate to ensure the fulfillment of basic rights, including health, education, and social services, for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

Currently, the UNRWA manages 709 schools, with 21,946 teachers and 515,260 refugee children in the five operational areas.

In Jordan alone, the UNRWA manages 171 schools and three vocational training centers, with 121,368 students in 10 refugee camps.

The start of the new academic year at the UNRWA school this year has deep significance, as it is held in the midst of the financial crisis being faced by the agency.

Several of UNRWA`s key donors, mainly from the United States, have decided to stop financial assistance to UNRWA, and this threatens the sustainability of education programs for Palestinian refugee children.

The UNRWA is still experiencing a deficit of $217 million, thus compelling the agency to look for new funding sources from donor countries and corporations as well as individuals. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)