The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a UN agency that provides assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It was established in 1949 following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which led to the displacement of millions of Palestinians from their homes.
UNRWA’s mandate is to provide essential services, such as education, healthcare, and social services, to Palestinian refugees, as well as to promote their human development and protection. The agency also provides emergency assistance to Palestinian refugees affected by conflict or other crises.
UNRWA’s services include:
- Education: UNRWA operates more than 700 schools for Palestinian refugee children, providing free basic education from primary to secondary level. The agency also offers vocational and technical training programs to help refugees acquire skills for employment.
- Healthcare: UNRWA operates more than 140 primary health care centers in the region, providing basic health services to Palestinian refugees, including maternal and child health care, disease prevention, and treatment of common illnesses.
- Relief and social services: UNRWA provides emergency relief and social services to Palestinian refugees in need, including food assistance, shelter, and cash assistance.
- Microfinance: UNRWA provides microfinance services to help Palestinian refugees start or expand small businesses, which can help improve their economic conditions and self-sufficiency.
UNRWA is funded primarily by voluntary contributions from member states and other donors, and its operations are overseen by a Commissioner-General who is appointed by the UN Secretary-General. The agency operates under a mandate that is renewed every three years by the UN General Assembly.