AMMAN,
July 30, 2015 (WAFA) – The European Union (EU) has provided €2 million ($ 2.2 million) to
support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) emergency response
for Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) living in Jordan.
The UN agency said in a press
release that the donation would
help to preserve the resilience and mitigate the vulnerability of PRS in
Jordan.
The EU and UNRWA signed a Joint
Declaration for 2014-2016 that foresees a core EU contribution during these
years of some €246 million ($ 270.6 million), depending on funds available in
the annual EU budget.
Joanna
Wronecka, the EU Ambassador to Jordan said, “This long standing partnership
between the EU and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be
better educated, to live healthier lives, to access employment opportunities
and to improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of
the entire region.”
“This
timely donation will help to reduce the financial deficit of the emergency
appeal for PRS in Jordan,” said Roger Davies, the UNRWA Director of Operations
in Jordan.
“It will
enable us to provide roughly 80 per cent of Palestine refugees from Syria who
are recorded with the Jordan Field Office with cash assistance to meet
essential food and non-food item (NFI) needs, as well as emergency cash grants
and access to basic education.”
However,
while this contribution from the EU will provide urgently needed support for
Palestine refugees, the UNRWA General Fund deficit still stands at $ 101
million.
K.F/M.H
