| United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East (UNRWA)
WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION FOR SOME
5 MILLION REGISTERED PALESTINE REFUGEES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR
FULL POTENTIAL IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is funded almost entirely by voluntary
contributions from UN Member States. UNRWA also receives some
funding from the Regular Budget of the United Nations, which is
used mostly for international staffing costs.
The Agency’s services encompass education, health
care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement,
microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed
conflict.
Establishment
Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, UNRWA
was established by United Nations General Assembly resolution
302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and works
programmes for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations
on 1 May 1950.
In the absence of a solution to the Palestine
refugee problem, the General Assembly has repeatedly renewed UNRWA's
mandate, most recently extending it until 30 June 2017.
Palestine Refugees
UNRWA is unique in terms of its long-standing
commitment to one group of refugees. It has contributed to the
welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine
refugees, defined as “persons whose normal place of residence
was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and
who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the
1948 conflict.” The descendants of Palestine refugee males, including
legally adopted children, are also eligible for registration.
UNRWA services are available to all those living
in its areas of operations who meet this definition, who are registered
with the Agency and who need assistance. When the Agency began
operations in 1950, it was responding to the needs of about 750,000
Palestine refugees. Today, some 5 million Palestine refugees are
eligible for UNRWA services.
WHAT WE DO
UNRWA human development and humanitarian services encompass primary
and vocational education, primary health care, relief and social
services, infrastructure and camp improvement, microfinance and
emergency response, including in situations of armed conflict.
OUR PRIORITIES
We are committed to fostering the human development of Palestine
refugees by helping them to:
- Acquire knowledge and skills
- Lead long and healthy lives
- Achieve decent standards of living
- Enjoy human rights to the fullest possible extent.
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