Canada provides support to Palestinian refugees
News Release
August 24, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced Canada’s continued support of up to $25 million to Palestinian refugees via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Canada’s support of up to $20 million will help meet the basic education, health and livelihood needs of millions of Palestinian refugees—especially women and children—as well as support the promotion of neutrality in the agency’s activities. The funding will also contribute to stability in the region by providing basic services to people whose needs would otherwise be unmet.
Canada’s support of up to $5 million to UNRWA’s Syria Emergency Appeal provides emergency life-saving assistance to more than 480,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria and Lebanon. The funding will provide humanitarian assistance for Palestinian refugees who have been severely affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria.
The Government of Canada wants to ensure that funds announced today go to the most vulnerable Palestinian refugees. As such, Canada will ensure that there is enhanced due diligence applied to UNRWA funding and that our investments continue to be accompanied by a very robust oversight and reporting framework.
Canada will also assist UNRWA with its ongoing efforts to improve neutrality within the agency and with its operations. Canadian support will allow UNRWA to engage a neutrality coordinator to monitor activities and respond to neutrality related allegations. The assistance demonstrates how Canada and UNRWA are working together to ensure respect for the values of the United Nations and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, operational independence and impartiality.
The funding will directly contribute to focusing Canada’s international assistance on the poorest and most vulnerable, supporting fragile states and championing the rights of refugees, including women and girls.
Quotes
“Palestinian refugees deserve the right to be able to go to a school, receive proper health care and get other basic services. Canada’s renewed engagement is part of our long-standing commitment to a more peaceful and stable region. Canada is committed to assisting UNRWA in improving neutrality within the Agency and ensuring that there is enhanced due diligence in verifying that oversight is indeed robust. Along with our G7 allies and all other donors in the international community, Canada is committed to bring assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in the region.”
- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
Quick Facts
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Palestinian refugees are among the most vulnerable, enduring high levels of poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.
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In Syria, 95% of Palestinian refugees are in need of sustained humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.
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In Lebanon, 95% of Palestinian refugees from Syria are food insecure.
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In Jordan, 85% of Palestinian refugees from Syria are categorized as vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.
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Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
marie-emmanuelle.cadieux@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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