The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has received an initial disbursement of $600,000 from the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The funds are part of a $1.5 million grant towards safeguarding the right to education for Palestine refugee children in Gaza.

The contribution was received by UNRWA Acting Director of External Relations and Spokesperson Tamara Alrifai at the Embassy of the UAE in Amman, Jordan.

Through the contribution, UNRWA will implement an annual project for the scholastic year of 2021-2022 for the UNRWA Beit Lahia Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Elementary Boys and Elementary Co-Educational Schools in northern Gaza.  School supplies including bags, stationary, and uniforms will be distributed to some 3,100 Palestine refugee students.  In addition, the funds will cover the equipment, furnishing and rehabilitation of the two schools.

Now, more than ever, the humanitarian and socioeconomic conditions for most of Gaza’s population are dire. After the Israeli aggression in May and the ongoing fourteen-year Israeli blockade, widespread devastation mars the lives of some 2 million Palestinians living in the besieged coastal enclave.

UNRWA Spokesperson Tamara Alrifai, said: “We are grateful for the long lasting and continuing support of the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to the UNRWA education programme. This donation from the Khalifa Foundation and the Government of the United Arab Emirates will have a direct and positive impact on the education and learning experiences of thousands of Palestine refugees, who successfully started a new school year in Gaza a few weeks ago.”

Mohamed Haji Al Khoori, Director General of Khalifa Foundation said, “We recognize the importance of UNRWA’s work with Palestine refugees, particularly here in Gaza. UNRWA has commitment towards refugees in Gaza facing difficult circumstances. At the same time, we welcome further efforts by the Agency to reform and to ensure the long-term sustainability of its essential services in Gaza and other fields.”