The European Union (EU) is allocating EUR 1 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to better protect Palestine Refugees who are threatened by conflict and forced displacement in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since 2009, EU humanitarian funds have supported UNRWA efforts to provide protection to Palestine Refugees.
The Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, Adam Bouloukos, expressed his deep appreciation to the EU for their continued support:
“We are grateful for this contribution which reaffirms the commitment of the EU to UNRWA and Palestine Refugees, particularly at a time when the protection environment continues to deteriorate. These funds come at a critical time in view of the dire financial situation of the Agency and the unparalleled needs observed in Jenin.”
Since the beginning of the year, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has seen an escalation of violence impacting civilians, with the escalation of violence in Jenin being one of the recent examples. This has manifested in a sharp increase in the number of fatalities and injuries, including of children.
Most Palestinian fatalities in 2023 occurred in the context of military and law enforcement operations of Israeli Security Forces (ISF), particularly in and around Palestine Refugee camps, as recently seen in Jenin. This leads to fatalities, physical injuries, and damage to private property, and also inflicts psychological trauma.
In 2023, the EU will continue its support to UNRWA and will aim to reach close to 200,000 refugees in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) to offset the negative effects of this coercive environment through hundreds of advocacy interventions. UNRWA and the EU are persistent and vocal advocates for upholding International Humanitarian Law.
The EU funds the UNRWA Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), which provides cash assistance, psychological first aid, and other complimentary services to assist individuals threatened by forced displacement, demolitions, and other forms of violence.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “The EU’s partnership with UNRWA seeks to better protect civilians, particularly children in refugee camps. They are the ones feeling the full brunt of the escalation. We are committed to continuing our unwavering support to the most vulnerable Palestinian refugees.”
