JERUSALEM, Friday, September 16, 2022 (WAFA) – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and New Zealand have signed a three-year agreement totalling $1.8 million to support core UNRWA programs for Palestine refugees across the Middle East.

This UNRWA said the agreement builds on a long-standing partnership between the Agency and New Zealand, and provides flexible, reliable, and predictable funding that enables the Agency to continue service delivery to Palestine refugees, including education to 550,000 Palestine refugee students who are returning to 710 UNRWA schools across the Middle East over the next few weeks.

Special Representative Lewis reaffirmed New Zealand's commitment to UNRWA saying, "Despite recent challenges posed by COVID-19, UNRWA has shown that it has the ability to adapt and to continue making a positive, concrete difference in the lives of the people it serves. "

"We are also encouraged to see UNRWA's ongoing respect for UN values and commitment to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence," he added.

Expressing her appreciation, UNRWA Director of External Relations and Communications, Ms. Alrifai said: "UNRWA is very grateful to the Government of New Zealand for its continued trust and confidence in the Agency to deliver quality services to Palestine refugees."

"We rely on our strongest partners to provide predictable funding in the form of multiyear, flexible, support to our core programming, and New Zealand has consistently proven its willingness to respond to our needs. This genuine interest in the wellbeing of Palestine refugees is a proof that solidarity defies distance!"

M.N