Qatar to provide $25m to UN agency for Palestine refugees

QFFD signed two deals worth $25 million with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed two deals worth $25 million with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Doha on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met yesterday with the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), H E Philippe Lazzarini, who is currently visiting the country.

During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation and relations between Qatar and the UN agency. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also Chairman of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) witnessed the signing of two agreements between the fund and UNRWA to provide financial support with a total value of $25m, including support for the activities of the United Nations over two years, in addition to support for Palestinian refugees in Syria in several sectors, as part of Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal (EA) by the UNRWA.

The two agreement were signed for Qatar by Director General of QFFD H E Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, and for UNRWA by the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini.

The first agreement provided for supporting UNRWA’s core resources with an amount of $18m, with the aim of strengthening the agency’s role in protecting the rights of Palestinian refugees.

This agreement contributes to ensuring that the agency continues to provide its services and to enhance its role in improving the conditions of the Palestinian people in Palestine and in the host countries.

While the second agreement includes providing comprehensive support to Palestinian refugees in Syria in the sectors of health, education and economic development, with an amount of $7m, serving 355,980 beneficiaries of Palestinian refugees.

The agreement in the economic empowerment sector includes emergency cash assistance for Palestinian refugees affected by the conflict in Syria, with a total value of $4m for a period of 12 months, for the benefit of 52,000 beneficiaries. 

In addition to enhancing training in the field of technical and vocational education for Palestinian refugees in Syria, while providing vocational opportunities, with a total value of $1.5m for two years for the benefit of 2,125 beneficiaries.

The agreement also focuses on supporting the education sector and ensuring the continuation of providing basic education services to Palestinian refugee students in Syria at a value of $1m for a period of 12 months, for the benefit of 51,000 beneficiaries.

In addition, the agreement will also support the health sector, by providing primary and secondary healthcare services in Syria at a value of $500,000 for a period of 12 months, for the benefit of 250,855 beneficiaries.