3 April 2012
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A delegation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), led by Commissioner-General Mr. Filippo Grandi, met today with representatives from the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent (UAERC) during a visit to the UAE. In the meeting with UAERC Chairman Mr. Ahmad Humeed Al Mazroui and Advisor for International Relations Dr. Abdel-Karim Bensiali, the UAERC underlined its sustained commitment to UNRWA, noting that for the UAERC, UNRWA continues to be a major partner and the one through which it extends support to Palestine refugees.
During a fruitful meeting, the UAERC and UNRWA representatives discussed a number of areas of potential future co-operation, including support for school construction in Gaza, a health centre in Jerusalem, and food assistance for poor Palestine refugees in Gaza and Syria, and to those still displaced after the destruction of Nahr el-Bared Camp in northern Lebanon.
The UAERC is a regular contributor to UNRWA’s programmes to feed the poorest Palestine refugees, and a committed supporter of major UNRWA construction projects, having partnered with the Agency through many initiatives in Syria, Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.
- Ends -
Background information
UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for nearly 5 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, pending a solution to their plight. The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, social safety-net, camp infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by contributions from States. The Agency’s core budget for 2012-2013 stands at USD 1.33 billion. In 2012, emergency appeals for the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon amounted to USD 344.0 million.
For more information please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org
Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org
InterTech 
