UNRWA Commits to Serve Palestinian Refugees with Disabilities

Amman, MINA – On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday, December 3, the United Nations for Relief and Work for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reaffirmed its commitment to promote and serve the rights of Palestinian refugees with disabilities.

Through its programs and services, UNWRA continues to commit to empowering Palestinian refugees with disabilities participating fully in every decision that affects their lives, as quoted by Wafa news agency on Wednesday.

“Persons with disabilities have historically been marginalized and even more during the humanitarian emergency,” UNWRA Acting Commissioner General Christian Saunders said.

“It must change and the needs of persons with disabilities must become an integral part of every effective development and humanitarian response. As a humanitarian agency, UNRWA has a unique role in providing services for them, “he added.

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The UN General Assembly in establishing its mandate meets the needs, rights, and protection of persons with disabilities in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Apart from challenges faced by UNRWA such as financial problems, the agency continues to take concrete actions to provide the assistance needed for Palestinian refugees through its programs.

Partnerships with civil society organizations, and through capacity building of its staff, UNWRA also includes persons with disabilities at all times.

UNRWA has actively participated in inter-agency efforts to strengthen disability inclusion, such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action adopted last month.

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Disability inclusion is an integral part of the work done by UNRWA in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and will also take steps to implement the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), first launched by the Secretary-General in June 2019. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)