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Jordan + 3 more

Republic of Korea contributes US$500,000 to promote a better and safer life for Palestine refugees from Syria in Jordan

The Government of the Republic of Korea has contributed US$ 500,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to help ensure the continuity of the Agency’s educational and health services to Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) in Jordan. An agreement was jointly signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Jordan, Ambassador Lee Bom-yon, and UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl on 15 November in Amman.

This latest contribution from Korea supports Agency efforts to ensure that PRS fleeing the conflict in Syria and currently present in Jordan have free access to safe, child-friendly and gender-sensitive schools and health centres, and vocational training centres for youth.

The UNRWA Commissioner-General expressed his deep appreciation for the Republic of Korea's trust and support: “The relationship between UNRWA and the Republic of Korea is very important to us. Since 1953, Korea has been committed to supporting Palestine refugees, especially in the areas of vocational training, education and health. It is very encouraging to see our relationship become even more dynamic and I highly value this generous contribution, which will help Palestine refugees from Syria meet their essential education and health needs”.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Jordan, Ambassador Lee Bom-yon said: "When I visited the UNRWA vocational training center in Amman last year, I learned that 17,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria were excluded from the support to Syrian refugees only because they are Palestinians despite the fact that they became refugees due to the Syrian crisis. Today I am very happy to provide these people with the needed support through UNRWA."

The Republic of Korea has become an important and steadfast donor and partner for UNRWA. Since 2012, Korea has contributed more than US$ 6.5 million to the Agency Programme Budget, Emergency Appeals and projects.

Background Information

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.