DAMASCUS, 20th March, 2023 (WAM) — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Syria has called on all participants at today's International Donor Conference in Brussels to support their urgent financial requirements to receive US$16.2 million for the UNRWA 2023 Syria-Lebanon Flash Appeal.
This support is needed to meet the humanitarian and early recovery needs of Palestine Refugees affected by the recent devastating earthquake that struck the north of Syria on 6th February, the agency said.
According to the agency, nearly 47,000 Palestine Refugees in Aleppo, Latakia, Jableh, and Hama were affected by the earthquake, with more than 2,300 still displaced. The UNRWA was able to respond to the needs of the affected population it could access, providing food and non-food items such as hygiene kits and blankets, psycho-social support for children, and telemedicine support for vulnerable individuals, including older persons. The agency has also distributed cash assistance to families of Palestine Refugees in the affected areas, and UNRWA schools have opened with catch-up classes and psycho-social support provided to children.
Additionally, nearly 10,000 Palestinian Refugees living in northwest Syria have been affected by the earthquake and urgently need assistance. UNRWA in Syria is committed to providing crucial aid to Palestine Refugees in the aftermath of this disaster, but cannot do this alone. The agency called on donors to support all those affected, including Palestine Refugees in these areas, so they can receive the assistance they urgently require.
The UNRWA in Syria appealed to donors to join their efforts and prioritise the needs of all those affected by the earthquake, including those in northwest Syria. By working together, a significant difference can be made in the lives of those who are most vulnerable and in desperate need of support.