Qatar Fund for Development continues to support the UNRWA health programme in Syria with a US$ 5 million contribution

The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has contributed US$ 5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of its health program in Syria. This very generous donation is part of a US$ 20.7 million agreement that QFFD provided to the Agency in December 2019.

Conflict in Syria over the past decade has caused immense challenges for Palestine refugees, including deaths and injuries, continued internal displacement, large-scale migration to other countries, loss of livelihoods, and mounting humanitarian needs for basic survival. It has been a huge challenge for UNRWA which is having to respond to these needs of the Palestine refugees, with its reducing funding resources. The Agency has also had significant destruction of its installations, including health centers and schools.

The Agency delivers various primary healthcare services, including outpatient consultations, vaccinations, growth monitoring, provision of medicines, gynecological consultations, laboratory services, care for non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health care, and dental services. Health services are delivered through its 25 health facilities across Syria, including two mobile health clinics that cater mainly to the refugee population in Yalda and Yarmouk, Damascus, and Ein el Tal camp in Aleppo. Furthermore, the Agency provides subsidized support to Palestine refugees seeking secondary and tertiary health care through a system of referral to public hospitals.

Expressing his thanks, Dr. Akihiro Seita, Director of Health at UNRWA HQ in Amman, said: “On behalf of UNRWA, I thank the QFFD for their continued and generous support to our health program in Syria. This contribution helps ensure that UNRWA can continue to provide crucial and life-saving healthcare services to Palestine refugees. We highly value the outstanding commitment shown by the QFFD to sustaining the delivery of basic health-care services to Palestine refugees in Syria.”

Qatar Fund for Development Director-General Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Kuwari said: “This contribution testifies to the Fund’s strong continued support of the long and healthy lives of Palestine refugees in Syria.”