This new assistance package announced at the visibility events in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York brings the total EU support provided to UNRWA in 2015 up to €125 million.
As a first step, the money will support core UNRWA programmes, including education and health care. It comes in direct response to the deficit in the Agency's core programme budget, which had risked a delay in opening UNRWA schools on time for the current school year. To that end, the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl signed an agreement earlier today for the first €10 million, with an additional €10 million to follow in October. The package also includes a further €10 million contribution to enable UNRWA to improve the education, health care and livelihoods of the 480,000 Palestine refugees living in Syria. This support will enhance their resilience and staying power, thus reducing pressures for them to flee to the neighbouring countries and on to Europe.
Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn commented: "The EU is the largest and most reliable donor to UNRWA in its invaluable work with Palestinian refugees, providing them with access to primary education, health and social services, even under very harsh conditions. This is an investment in their future and at the same time an investment in the stability in Europe's neighbourhood. This additional contribution will also allow UNRWA to bridge its financing gap in 2015 and to move forward in the implementation of its reform process."
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl said: "This important and generous contribution from the EU means that we will be able to overcome our funding shortfall for the year, allowing us to concentrate our efforts on ensuring the long-term financial stability of UNRWA so that our core programmes are never again put at risk. I am deeply grateful for this latest commitment from the EU, which has long been a valued and reliable partner of UNRWA in providing for the needs of Palestine refugees. This support is crucial in ensuring that Palestine refugees will continue to have access to quality education, health care and life-saving services until a just solution for their plight is achieved."
Background
The EU is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees, providing crucial and reliable support to UNRWA since 1971. Between 2007 and 2014, the EU contributed over €1 billion ($ 1.44 billion) in support of UNRWA, including €809 million for the Agency's core programmes and services. In addition, the EU has generously contributed to UNRWA humanitarian emergency appeals and projects in response to various crises and specific needs across the region. EU Member States provide additional crucial support to the Agency. The partnership between the EU 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. In June this year, the EU contributed €82 million towards the Agency's core programme budget.
