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Across the Middle East, UNRWA students are excelling in the classroom and building the skills they need to live out the UN values of neutrality, human rights, tolerance, equality and non-discrimination. Their success is being celebrated across borders -- this year, 45 UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip and 14 in the West Bank have been named winners of the prestigious International School Awards . Granted by the British Council , a UK-based organization specializing in international cultural and educational opportunities, the honor celebrates schools that are successfully preparing students...

Today, United States Ambassador to Jordan H.E Henry T. Wooster and the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, visited the UNRWA Baqa’a Health Centre, located north of Amman. The Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan, Ms. Marta Lorenzo, and H.E. Eng. Rafiq Khirfan, Director-General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs accompanied them on the visit that comes on the heel of the U.S. announcement last week resumption of support to UNRWA.

Today, is the second World Health Day in the shadow of the devastating spread of the COVID-19 virus, leaving in its wake untold death, suffering and economic hardship across the globe. Refugees and displaced persons, including Palestine refugees, are among the populations hit hardest during this devastating crisis. For the 5.7 million Palestine refugees UNRWA serves, this pandemic has added another tragic dimension on what is already seven decades of displacements, dispossessions and violence for so many among them.

UNRWA is alarmed by the dire situation of Palestine refugees in Lebanon and the precariousness in which they live, particularly in the last year of acute financial crisis and pandemic. Many Palestine refugees live in 12 overcrowded camps across the country.

The protracted conflict in Syria has severely impacted Palestine refugees who had sought shelter in the country after their displacement from historic Palestine in 1948. The now 10-year conflict has resulted in most losing their homes and livelihoods. More than 60 per cent of their community has experienced prolonged multiple internal displacements over the years.

UNRWA is committed to ensuring that children are safe, protected and heard within schools and other UNRWA installations and the community at large. The Agency joined the international community in the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children and launched its own Agency-wide Addressing Violence Affecting, and Involving, Children (“AVAC”) initiative in 2016.

On the occasion of the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (the MoU) between Ireland and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Mr. Don Sexton, Representative of Ireland in Palestine, met with Ms. Leni Stenseth, Deputy Commissioner-General of UNRWA