Amman, 27 January 2022 (TDI): In accordance with the cooperative agreement, the two UN agencies will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to children, adolescents, and women in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
UNICEF and UNRWA will work together on child social protection, education, health, advocacy, and emergency preparedness. The UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General, Leni Stenseth said, “Coordinating efforts will enhance the level of support and advocacy Palestine refugees receive.”
With the experience of how trauma can affect refugee children, UNRWA believes a combination of protection, health, education, and advocacy can diminish conflict-related trauma and contribute to the wellbeing of refugee children.
Collectively, they will conduct studies, situation analyses, and research on women and children, as well as engage in social change by addressing harmful social and gender norms and practices.
Cooperation increases the coordination of humanitarian aid, including during crises, enabling the assessment of risks and improving crisis preparedness. With this agreement, we have renewed our commitment to aiding Palestine refugees.
Since the 1960s, UNICEF and UNRWA have worked together. With this cooperative agreement, the two entities will more significantly advance child-sensitive programmes, provide technical assistance, increase support for digital learning, deliver COVID-19 vaccines, and raise awareness about vaccine safety and children’s rights, said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Pleased to renew @UNRWA longstanding partnership with @UNICEF and strengthen efforts in e.g Education, Child Protection and Health to benefit more #Palestine refugee children and families pic.twitter.com/2T9es6yJtQ
— Leni Stenseth (@LeniStenseth) January 24, 2022
During the four-year period (from 2022 to 2025), it will sufficiently cover the following areas:
- The provision of technical assistance, policy advice, joint advocacy, and functional programming for child protection.
- Focus on continuous education, including during times of crisis, digital learning, addressing violence in schools, and developing life skills for young people, including through preparation for entering the workforce.
- In order to mitigate the effects of poverty, social protection, including financial assistance, is necessary.
- Maternal and child health, childhood illness management, malnutrition, immunization, and the delivery of vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Development of evidence to support children’s programming
- Advocacy and communication
- Changes in behavior and social norms
- Preparation and response to emergencies
“We are delighted to renew our commitment to help Palestine refugees through this agreement. #UNICEF and #UNRWA have been cooperating for decades.”https://t.co/q3PLpFwKqF pic.twitter.com/pgIkevzcVa
— Ted Chaiban (@TedChaiban) January 24, 2022
UNRWA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949. Its mandate is to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five operational fields.
In the absence of a just and lasting solution to their plight, it assists Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in achieving their full human development potential.
The services provided by UNRWA include education, health care, relief, social services, camp infrastructure, improvement, protection, and microfinance.
Information about UNICEF
To reach the world’s most disadvantaged children, UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places. To build a better world for every child, the organization works in 190 countries and territories.
