Today, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Dorothee Klaus, conducted her second visit to Ein El Hilweh, following the recent clashes that took place in the camp. At UNRWA Health Centre II, she met with the health staff, and heard from them about their working conditions, concerns, and challenges. Among these were issues related to the safety and security of UNRWA personnel, and procedures for evacuation during instances of armed clashes.
Dr. Klaus stressed that the security and safety of UNRWA staff and the camp's residents remains her utmost priority. She explained that she and her team are engaged in daily monitoring of the situation to ensure the fulfillment of this commitment.
In the effort to enhance security and safety measures for UNRWA staff in Ein El Hilweh camp, the meeting concluded with an agreement to provide security and safety training for the staff, in addition to arranging transportation to and from the camp through the utilization of UNRWA buses.
Dr. Klaus expressed her solidarity and support to the UNRWA team in the camp. "I greatly value the dedication of our staff to their roles, even in the face of challenges, as they serve the Palestine Refugee community. My team and I are committed to offering the support our staff needs during these difficult times," she said.
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.
