GAZA, September 2, 2009, (WAFA)- The European Commission had announced

a contribution of €13 million to support the Job Creation Program of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which will help to create more than 1,4 million work days for Gaza's unemployed. Mr. Christian Berger, the European Commission Representative for the West Bank and Gaza Strip and UNRWA, made the announcement to UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd at Gaza City's port, Al-Mina.

The €13 million donation will go towards UNRWA's Job Creation Program in the Gaza Strip, which provides temporary employment opportunities designed to alleviate the current unemployment crisis and high poverty rates in the area. The ongoing blockade of Gaza continues to dictate the lives of ordinary people and has led to an unprecedented unemployment rate of 40 percent – one of the highest in the world.

'Today's contribution serves two purposes: to highlight once again the very real hardships faced by the men and women of Gaza and to reaffirm the European Commission's commitment to help them address those hardships, said Christian Berger.'

'Of the many burdens faced by these families, unemployment - and its dire economic impact - is surely one of the hardest to bear. By providing funds for the Job Creation Program of UNRWA, with whom the EC has a lasting partnership, we can bring immediate relief to many of the poorest families and help them, albeit in a modest way, to return towards a more normal way of life.'

'Funding towards UNRWA's Job Creation Program has never been more crucial, as people in Gaza struggle under the hardship of the ongoing blockade and the effects of the recent conflict. The main priority for ordinary Gazans is to work and to lead productive lives, not to receive hand-outs. UNRWA Job Creation addresses this, as it provides thousands of employment opportunities for both men and women, targeting the poorest and most vulnerable of refugee households,' said Karen AbuZayd.

This is the first time that the European Commission contributes funds directly towards UNRWA's Job Creation Program in Gaza. The €13 million will provide jobs for more than 17,000 direct beneficiaries, reaching a total of 105,384 direct and indirect beneficiaries through the hired workers and their dependents. More than 1,450,000 job days will be generated, a welcome development given current economic circumstances.

With these EU funds, UNRWA's Job Creation Programme in Gaza will prioritize projects in the almost collapsed private sector, assistance to local utilities and service providers, as well as support to help UNRWA fulfill its humanitarian and human development responsibilities in fields such as education, environmental health and food distribution.