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With EU and Polish Support, UNRWA Brings the Voices of Palestine Refugees to Warsaw

08 February 2017

On Thursday, 26 January, the UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl; the Polish Undersecretary of State for Development Cooperation, Africa, Middle East and Human Rights,  Joanna Wronecka; the Head of the European Commission Representation in Poland, Dr. Marek Prawda; the Deputy Mayor of the City of Warsaw, Renata Kaznowska; and the Vice-Rector for Development of the University of Warsaw, Professor Anna Giza-Poleszczuk, officially opened the travelling UNRWA exhibition, ‘The Long Journey’, in Warsaw.

Organized with the support of the European Union and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the exhibition showcases photos from the UNRWA Film and Photo Archive, which was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2009. The photos featured in the exhibition provide an unparalleled insight into UNRWA service delivery and the lives and history of Palestine refugees over the last 70 years. The striking images are a testament not only to the challenges and adversity that Palestine refugees have faced throughout the decades, but also to the ingenuity and resilience with which they have responded.

Exhibited for the first time in Central and Eastern Europe, this edition of ‘The Long Journey’ also illustrates the steadfast and continued support of the European Union and Poland to UNRWA, thus ensuring the Agency’s capacity to continue delivering core services to Palestine refugees and to respond to their humanitarian and human development needs in Gaza, the West Bank), Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

The exhibition will be open to the public until 12 February at the University of Warsaw Library (BUW).

EU AND UNRWA – TOGETHER FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES

Since 1971, the European Union and UNRWA have maintained a strategic partnership governed by the shared objective to support the human development, humanitarian and protection needs of Palestine refugees and promote stability in the Middle East. Today, the European Union is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees. This reliable and predictable support from the European Union enables UNRWA to provide core services to more than 5 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza, including quality education for roughly half a million children and primary health care for more than 3.5 million patients.

Collectively, the EU and its Member States are also among the largest contributors to the Agency’s humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. The partnership between the European Union and UNRWA has allowed millions of Palestine refugees to be better educated, live healthier lives, access employment opportunities and improve their living conditions, thus contributing to the development of the entire region.

‘The Long Journey’ gives visitors a moving, visual overview of the difficulties faced by Palestine refugees over the last 70 years and the ways in which they have resiliently responded with the support of UNRWA, the European Union and Poland. Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra.The Warsaw edition of the ‘Long Journey’ exhibition was made possible through the kind support of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union. Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra.The exhibition will be open to the public at the University of Warsaw Library (BUW) until 12 February. Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra.On his first official visit to Poland, Mr. Krähenbühl took the opportunity to thank the European Union and Poland for their continuous support to Palestine refugees through UNRWA. Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra.The Head of the European Commission Representation in Poland, Dr. Marek Prawda, opened the exhibition on behalf of the European Union. Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra."I would like to express my high appreciation for the work of the Agency, who has been providing consistent support to Palestine refugees and delivering to them a measure of dignity, stability and self-reliance for more than 60 years now,” said the Polish Undersecretary of State for Development Cooperation, Africa, Middle East and Human Rights, Joanna Wronecka (pictured). Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra. ‘The Long Journey’ exhibition features photos from the UNRWA Film and Photo Archive, which was inscribed on the UNESCO Member of the World Register in 2009. With generous donor support, UNRWA has been able to digitize the Archive’s assets, ensuring that this testament to the cultural heritage of Palestine refugees could be made accessible to a wider audience. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Amelie Drevet-Smethurst Exhibited for the first time in Central and Eastern Europe, this edition of ‘The Long Journey’ also illustrates the steadfast support of the European Union and Poland continue to UNRWA, © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Amelie Drevet-Smethurst The Warsaw edition of ‘The Long Journey’ was officially inaugurated on the 26 January and will be open to the public until 12 February. Photo courtesy of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photograher: Sebastian Indra.

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