The Republic of Korea contributed US$ 1.7 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This represents a tenfold increase in core budget support compared to the previous year. The Republic of Korea also consistently provides support to the Agency's Emergency Appeals and specific projects aimed at assisting Palestine Refugees.
The Representative Song Si-jin, Head of the Representative Office of the Republic of Korea to Palestine, emphasized the vital role UNRWA plays in the Middle East. He stated, "In the face of increasing challenges such as underfunding and spiraling costs, it is now more crucial than ever to ensure predictable, sustainable, and sufficient funding for UNRWA's operations."
The contribution will go towards supporting core UNRWA services, such as education, health care and social protection to Palestine Refugees across in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
"We are grateful to the Republic of Korea for the substantial increase in their contribution to UNRWA's core budget this year. This is an important sign of support to Palestine Refugees amid a significantly worsening socio-economic situation," said Karim Amer, UNRWA Director of Partnerships. "We greatly value our partnership with the Republic of Korea and look forward to continuing to develop it along this very positive trajectory."
It is through the consistent support of donors like the Government of the Republic of Korea that the Agency can continue to provide essential services to Palestine Refugees across the Middle East, even amidst ongoing challenges.
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Notes
- The Republic of Korea has been a reliable partner to UNRWA since 1953.
- In the past five years, the total contribution by the Republic of Korean to UNRWA amounted to US$ 6.8 million.
- At the beginning of the year, UNRWA appealed for US$ 1.6 billion for its programmes, operations and emergency response across Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip and Jordan. Insufficient funding to date means that UNRWA may not be able to deliver services from September onwards.
- At the 2023 Pledging Conference for UNRWA at the UN in New York, UNRWA Commissioner-General Lazzarini sounded the alarm about the Agency's deepening funding crisis, and warned of the risk of collapse.
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.
