UNRWA Lauds Syria’s Efforts Hosting, Offering Aid to Palestinians

DAMASCUS, (ST) –  “For sixty six  years , Syria has been offering  facilities and services to the Palestinian refugees, and  continues to offer aid to assuage their plight in spite of the ongoing crisis the country is living through”, Pierre Krahinbuhl emphasized, the new Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

Krahinbuhl made it clear that UNRWA is deeply concerned over the situation of the Palestinians in Syria after a large number of them have been forced to leave their camps the thing that aggravated their humanitarian crisis, particularly with regard to education, health and services.

“My visit to Homs and Jaramana in Damascus countryside had allowed me to inspect and get acquainted with the situation of the refugees during the current stage, appreciating the Syrian State’s efforts to ease the suffering of refugees, “said Krahinbuhl.  .

“What has happened in al-Yarmouk camp is reminiscent of the suffering of those refugees and the volume of our responsibility towards them as UNRWA concentrates now on the urgent need like food, health and financial aid,” Krahinbuhl said. He added that Syria has embraced the Palestinian refugees since 1948 and offered them all support.

“There are a lot of things to do in cooperation with the Syrian Government,” the UN official said, adding work is underway with the Syrian officials to improve the situation of the Palestinian refugees in Syria.

New programs

Earlier, Krahenbuhl stressed the need to launch new programs and activities to cater for the displaced families alongside the existing educational and health services.

During his visit to Jaramana, Krahenbuhl was quoted as saying:” the Agency will continue working to procure as much aid as possible and urge donor countries to help the Agency do their work”.

“The centers host both Palestinian and Syrian displaced families and provide them with  proper care, as the UNRWA infirmary  provides services to Palestinians who live in these centers and elsewhere,  UNRWA director of temporary housing centers Dina Halas affirmed.

It is  noteworthy to say that Krahenbuhl succeeded Filippo Grandi as UNRWA Commissioner-General in March 2014. Before that, he was director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross since 2002.

N.Haj Khidr