Austria signs agreement for EUR 2 million to UNRWA

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Sep 01, 2021 14:05 pm

Days of Palestine – Ramallah

The Government of Austria has signed an agreement worth €2 million in favor of the 2021 Emergency Appeal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Austria will contribute to the Agency’s third round of cash assistance to Palestine refugees in Syria, including 8,212 refugees belonging to the most vulnerable groups (e.g., female-headed households, families headed by a person with a disability, families headed by the elderly, or unaccompanied minors), in addition to 13,780 people belonging to other risk groups.

Austrian Representative to the State of Palestine Astrid Winn said, “Austria stands close to UNRWA, our long-term partner, to support the delivery of humanitarian aid to needy Palestine refugees in Syria.” 

“We are fully aware of UNRWA’s role in providing vital humanitarian services to Palestine refugees in Syria who have not passed through,” she added.

“Not only did they face a decade of conflict, but they also faced a severe economic crisis and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also reiterate our firm support for the UNRWA health program in the occupied Palestinian territory, which Austria supported through the first multi-year agreement signed in 2020,” she stressed.

In turn, UNRWA Director of Partnerships Karim Amer expressed his gratitude to Austria for its generous donation to our emergency program in Syria. 

“This is the third year in a row that Austria recognizes the growing needs of Palestine refugees in Syria and supports UNRWA in providing vital humanitarian services to help them meet their basic needs. UNRWA also appreciates Austria’s commitment to making regular contributions to the Agency, including its program budget, and from During the multi-year agreement signed in 2020 to support the UNRWA health program in the occupied Palestinian territory,” he added.

In 2020, the Government of Austria signed a three-year, multi-year agreement with a total value of €5.7 million for the Agency’s health program in the occupied Palestinian territories, to support the protection of the health of Palestine refugees, reducing the burden of disease, and ensuring the availability of medicines and medical supplies. Also, in 2021, Austria donated €400,000 to the UNRWA program budget, in addition to €1.9 million for the health program in the occupied Palestinian territories.