EU Representative visits UNRWA facilities in Gaza, contributes additional EUR 11.5 million
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EU representative John Gatt-Rutter signing financial agreement with UNRWA Gaza director
The United Nations Agency assisting Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), has been commended for the outstanding work it did by during the recent eight-day conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.
The praise came from the Representative to the European Union John Gatt-Rutter who also signed a new EUR 11.5 million agreement to support the Agency’s core activities in the areas of health, education and social services.
Speaking at UNRWA's Rimal Health Centre in Gaza City, Mr. Gatt-Rutter said “We are here today at one of UNRWA’s health centres which remained open during the conflict.”
" It's of course very important that we try and achieve normality here in Gaza, normality, normality for children. We want to try and help bring back a normal life to Gaza, to the people of Gaza, to the civilian population, including the children of course. And for this to be able to happen, of course the crossings need to be opened. They need to be opened regularly; they need to be opened for humanitarian goods, for commercial goods, but also for persons."
This latest contribution comes on top of an EUR 80 million contribution provided earlier in the year; a clear illustration of the EU’s commitment to Palestine refugees. It will allow UNRWA to sustain the delivery of regular services at a period when refugee needs have grown substantially without corresponding growth in the Agency’s budget. The majority of the 1.7 million people in Gaza are refugees.
Donn Bobb, United Nations
Duration: 1’25″
