Assistance for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

November 9, 2004

The Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance of about 4,830,000 dollars in total to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to support its three projects in the educational sector and to assist its general budgets in educational and other general fields.

Project Assistance:

(1)	Construction and Furnishing of 24 Classrooms in Lebanon: about $400,000
(2)	Japanese Scholarship Grant Programme to Palestinian Women for Higher Academic Studies in Lebanon: about $100,000
(3)	Construction of Standard Computer Laboratories and Multi-Purpose Rooms at Six UNRWA's School Buildings and Renovation of Learning Resource Centre at Yarmouk in Syria: $500,000

Assistance for General Budget (maintenance, administration and operation of UNRWA):

(1)	Assistance for General Budget in Educational Sector: $1 million
(2)	Assistance for General Budget: about $2,830, 000

An increase of Palestinian refugees in recent years has caused a serious shortage of classrooms at schools operated by the UNRWA. A double-shift system adopted by the Agency has not been able to fundamentally resolve the problem, and the educational environment of the refugees has worsened more than ever. In this situation, the Project for Construction and Furnishing of 24 Classrooms in Lebanon will provide greatly-needed school facilities such as classrooms. The Japanese Scholarship Grant Programme to Palestinian Women for Higher Academic Studies in Lebanon will provide scholarships for female students who lack educational opportunities. In the Project for Construction of Standard Computer Laboratories and Multi-Purpose Rooms at Six UNRWA's School Buldings and Renovation of Learning Resource Centre at Yarmouk in Syria, by constructing multi-purpose classrooms and standard computer laboratories at schools to which Japan's the Japan Overseas Cooperation members are assigned, Japan's assistance is expected to be more effective and to increase "greater visibility".
In view of the plight of the Palestine refugees, since 1953, Japan has continuously and proactively extended humanitarian assistance through the UNRWA. The promotion of human resource development and the enhancement of the independence of the Palestinian refugees by means of this assistance is expected to improve the lives of the refugees, who have been in difficult circumstances for over half a century, thereby contributing to the promotion of the Middle East peace process.

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