Japan Contributes $7 Million for UNRWA Emergency Assistants

Jerusalem, MINA – The Government of Japan has contributed an additional $7 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said the UN agency in a statement.

Of this important contribution, $4.5 million will enable UNRWA to continue providing health care for Palestine Refugees most in need of assistance in Lebanon. It will support hospitalization to 6,000 Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) and multipurpose cash assistance to those displaced to Lebanon.

An additional $1.5 million will contribute to the Agency’s humanitarian response to support Palestine refugees displaced from Yarmouk camp following eight years of conflict in Syria and another $1 million will go towards the provision of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services for nearly 200,000 Palestine refugees in Lebanon, WAFA reported.

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Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine, Takeshi Okubo said: “I’m very happy to share with you that the Government of Japan has decided to contribute 7 million US dollars to UNRWA for the project entitled “Emergency Grant Aid in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Lebanon” that is followed by the recent commitment of Japan to contribute $23 million to UNRWA from the supplementary budget of FY 2018.”

“We are determined more than ever to send a message to Palestine refugees through the assistance that “A friend in need is a friend indeed. Japan will be there with you.” at a time when the region is experiencing serious humanitarian crisis. With this new assistance, the total value of Japanese assistance to the Palestinian people has already exceeded 1.9 billion US dollars since 1993,” he added.

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The Chief Donor Relations Division of UNRWA, Marc Lassouaoui, said : “On behalf of UNRWA, I would like to thank Ambassador Okubo for his personal commitment to the Agency and the Palestine refugees.” He added that “The Government of Japan has been exemplary in its support to the Agency. We deeply appreciate this very generous gesture towards this vulnerable community.”

The Government of Japan is a dedicated donor to UNRWA, having supported the Agency since 1953. In 2018, the Government of Japan was the 10th largest contributor to the Agency, playing a critical role at a time when UNRWA faced an existential crisis. It is thanks to the enduring support of donors like the Government of Japan that the Agency is able to provide vital services to Palestine refugees across the Middle East in the face of its continuing challenges.(R/R04/P2)

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)