UNRWA Chief: Agency’s Work Focusing on Providing Urgent Assistance to Palestinians in Syria

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl has stressed that the Agency’s work is now focusing on providing urgent assistance of different forms to the Palestinians in Syria. He has also asserted the agency’s keenness on making this assistance regular, noting that some services like education and health have started to be rendered and they continued in areas like al-Husseiniya in Damascus Countryside.

 In a statement to SANA correspondent on Monday, Krahenbuhl expressed UNRWA’s appreciation for the Syrian government efforts, particularly in support for education, noting that the “agency uses more than 55 schools presented by the Syrian government to contribute to providing education services to Palestinian children.”

He affirmed the need to shed light on the agency’s efforts regarding education, particularly because focus at conflict times is made on the issue of providing food and financial aid.

According to Krahenbuhl, UNRWA will discuss all means and spare no effort as to meet the needs of the Palestinians and to eliminate obstacles facing the financial aid issue.

On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem received Krahenbuhl and the accompanying delegation. Talks dealt with cooperation and coordination between the Syrian government and the Agency, which Syria always works to enhance in the service of the interest of the Palestinians residing in Syria in terms of reducing their suffering and meeting their needs until they return back to their homeland.

Hamda Mustafa