EU stel addisionele € 40 miljoen voor vir # Palestynse vlugtelinge om skole en gesondheidsklinieke oop te hou

During the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) ministerial meeting in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini (uitgebeeld) said: "We reaffirm the EU's political and financial support to UNRWA, with an overall contribution from the EU and its member states of €1.2 billion for the past three years. UNRWA is essential for the perspective of a two-state solution. Supporting the agency means supporting peace and security in the Middle East. And this is in our strategic interest."

Also present at the meeting, Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: “Keeping schools open for Palestine refugees is a key priority for all of us. With this additional funding we reaffirm the European Union's clear and firm commitment to UNRWA and Palestine refugees. This is an exceptional response to an exceptional crisis. UNRWA needs now to focus on core services to the most vulnerable and to urgently align its activities to available funding. We stand ready to help UNRWA and to work with host governments to manage the process."

Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides added: “Our additional humanitarian assistance will help UNRWA respond to health needs which have increased significantly over the past six months in Gaza. This will strengthen the healthcare system and help UNRWA-run primary health-care centres in Gaza meet increased demands. We remain committed to assisting the most vulnerable people in Gaza and to strengthening the resilience of the most affected communities.”

The European Union has long been the largest and most reliable donor to the agency. This additional support for 2018 brings the overall European Commission contribution to UNRWA's activities in 2018 to €146 million. For the past three years (2016, 2017 and 2018) the total contribution of the EU and its member states combined has reached approximately €1.2bn. The EU also works with UNRWA to take forward internal reforms to secure a sound and sustainable financial basis, which includes focusing on core services to the most vulnerable.

agtergrond

Sedert 1971, die strategiese vennootskap tussen die Europese Unie en die UNRWA is gebaseer op die gemeenskaplike doelwit om die menslike ontwikkelings-, humanitêre en beskermingsbehoeftes van Palestynse vlugtelinge te ondersteun en om stabiliteit in die Midde-Ooste te bevorder.

advertensie

In Junie 2017 het die EU en UNRWA 'n 2017-2020 gemeenskaplike verklaring, strengthening the political nature of their partnership and reaffirming the European Union's commitment to promoting the rights of Palestine refugees. The Declaration also confirmed the EU's support for the long-term financial stability of the Agency in a context of intensified budgetary constraints and operational challenges.

Die impak van die befondsingskrisis van UNRWA is veral skerp in die Gazastrook waar die betrokkenheid van die EU sterk daarop toegespits is om beter perspektiewe vir die Palestynse volk te skep.

In addition to its participation to the UNRWA Ministerial meeting in New York on 27 September, the EU will also be represented by High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn at the annual autumn meeting of the international donor co-ordination group in support of the Palestinian economy, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), in New York on the same day. Since 1993 the AHLC has served as a key policy-level coordination mechanism for financial assistance to the Palestinian people, with a purpose of preserving the vision of a negotiated two-state solution.

Meer inligting

EU-samewerking met Palestina

EU humanitarian assistance in Palestine

Die Kantoor van die verteenwoordiger van die Europese Unie (Wes-Bank en Gazastrook, UNRWA)

Verenigde Nasies se hulp- en werkagentskap vir Palestynse vlugtelinge in die Nabye Ooste (UNRWA)