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

December 21, 2005

The Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance of $ 4,826,000 in total to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on December 19 to support its activities including the following five projects aimed at improving the livelihood of the Palestine refugees.

(1)

5 Projects to be Assisted (1million dollars in total):

(a)	Provision of Eight Ultrasound Machines for Material Health Programme and Introduction of Seven Chemistry Analyzers and Seven Hematology Cell Counters to UNRWA : $440,000
(b)	Training of Medical Staff to Make Best Use of New Ultrasound Machines, Chemistry Analyzers and Hematology Cell Counters Recently Installed in UNRWA's MCH Clinics and the Clinical Laboratories in Lebanon : $70,000
(c)	Establishment of Legal Advice Bureaus at Marka Camp and Aqaba: $90,000
(d)	Replacement and Maintenance of Dilapidated Health Centres : Replacement of Arroub Health Centre: $370,000
(e)	Mother and Child Health Care Services in Jericho Area: $30,000

(2)

Assistance to UNRWA's Operation and Maintenance Budget (education, health, relief and social services, micro credit and micro enterprise etc.): $3,826,000

(a)	Assistance for General Budget in Educational Sector: $1,000,000
(b)	Assistance for General Budget: about $2,826, 000

In view of the plight of the Palestine refugees, Japan has continuously extended humanitarian assistance through the UNRWA since 1953. Taking a historic opportunity for the Middle East peace process, Japan has actively assisted the Palestine refugees. Within this year, additional assistance of 15 million dollars in March was extended as part of a package to support the newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. In addition, emergency assistance of 5.5 million dollars was extended in last September to stabilize the civilian life in the Gaza Strip after the completion of the Israeli evacuation of their settlers. This assistance represents Japan's efforts to carry out its pledge for implementing the assistance of approximately 100 million for the immediate needs of the Palestinians, which was expressed to President Abbas when he visited Japan in May 2005.

This assistance will be expected to contribute to improving the living conditions of the Palestine refugees who have been in a difficult situation for more than half a century, and to promote peace in the Middle East.

(END)

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