New Green Playground in UNRWA Talbieh School for Girls Funded by Germany
AMMAN
Today, Bernhard Kampmann, Ambassador of Germany to Jordan, and Tamara Alrifai, Director of External Relations and Communications of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), inaugurated a green play area at the Talbieh Girls’ School, in the presence of Mr. Olaf Becker, Acting Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan.
The transformation of the 150 m2 playground was funded by the Government of Germany, following a visit by the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, to the Talbieh camp for Palestine refugees in February 2022, where she met students in the Talbieh Girls’ School, run by UNRWA. The students talked with her about their studies, their ambitions, and their wish for a greener camp, with playgrounds and recreational spaces in the otherwise densely built and populated camp.
In a letter read out by Ambassador Kampmann, the German Foreign Minister said: “I am glad that we were able to provide this support – I am convinced that every child deserves a good school, and also one with a beautiful school yard. With this project, we want to show that we see the people that UNRWA serves every day and the dedication of UNRWA staff: teachers, doctors, and the humanitarian personnel.”
Both UNRWA and Germany are invested in ensuring environmental sustainability, thus aligning over a shared vision for a green environment. With German support for Palestine refugees, UNRWA is contributing to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
“We are thrilled to see a playground with trees and plants,” said Tamara Alrifai. “UNRWA is strongly advocating for greener camps and for recreational areas for camp residents, including children. Here, it is the children’s right to play and to safety that Germany is directly supporting. It would be fantastic if similar green spaces were replicated across all UNRWA camps in the region,” she continued.
In his speech, Ambassador Kampmann also thanked UNRWA for their immediate support to Palestine refugees affected by the earthquakes last week: “Our hearts and thoughts are with those affected by the disastrous earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. We are grateful for UNRWA’s assistance to Palestine refugees – especially in times of hardship, but also every day here in Jordan.”
Germany generously funds programmes and initiatives that protect the human rights of Palestine refugees across the region and contributed approximately 190 million euros to UNRWA operations in 2022.
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UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
