R11bn appeal launched for Palestinians in critical need

THE UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has launched an $813 million (R11billion) emergency appeal for Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – including East Jerusalem – and those who have fled the conflict in Syria.

Speaking to UN News, Pierre Krähenbühl, the commissioner-general for UNRWA, said: “Palestine refugees are among the worst affected by the conflict. Over 95 percent of those who have remained in Syria – 430 000 – are in critical need of humanitarian assistance.”

Krähenbühl said the fact that 917 000 people are now in need of food assistance, a tenfold increase since 2000, was a “scandal”.

Of the requested $813m, $402m is targeted for Palestine refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

This would allow nearly1 million refugees in Gaza to receive food aid and provide rental assistance to 6 500 families who lost their homes during the 2014 hostilities as well as repairs for more than 50 000 families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

It would also cover foodinsecure refugees in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Among refugees in occupied Palestinian territory, the rate of unemployment is 43.2 percent in Gaza and 19.5percent in the West Bank.

Hundreds of thousands are food-insecure and children, especially those in Gaza, require psychosocial support due to trauma.

The remaining $411m in the request is intended to provide humanitarian assistance, protection, and basic services to 430 000 Palestine refugees inside Syria, 30000 who have fled to Lebanon, and almost 17 000 who are now in Jordan due to the ongoing conflict.

Some 95percent of Palestine refugees from Syria are in dire need of sustained humanitarian assistance. In Lebanon, 50percent live in camps and 85 percent living in Jordan are categorised as vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.