Amman, Jan 24 (Petra) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Tuesday appealed for US$ 1.6 billion for programmes and operations in 2023.

“Across all the areas of operations, UNRWA continues to play an indispensable role in the lives of millions of Palestine refugees. We work to maintain the delivery of basic services in an incredibly difficult financial and political context,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General Phillippe Lazzarini.

“Palestine refugees, one of the most underprivileged communities in the region, face unprecedented challenges and increasingly rely on UNRWA for basic services and, in some cases, sheer survival.”

Compounding challenges over 2022, including underfunding, inflation, disruption in the supply chain, geopolitical dynamics and skyrocketing poverty and unemployment rates amongst Palestinian refugees, have strained UNRWA.

According to a UNRWA statement, most Palestinian refugees live below the poverty line, many of whom depend on humanitarian assistance, including cash and food.

“I have just come from Syria, where I witnessed firsthand indescribable suffering and despair. The situation of Palestine Refugees is sadly mirrored in other places like Lebanon and Gaza where Palestine refugees are hitting rock bottom,” Lazzarini added.

UNRWA runs a full-fledged education system of over 700 schools providing education to more than half a million children in the region. The UN agency provides health, sanitation, education and social services, including food and cash assistance.

//Petra// AK

24/01/2023 22:23:28