(FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA—NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Today the Government of Japan has concluded an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in which Japan will contribute Yen 588 million (US$ 5.5 million) to the Agency’s Emergency Appeal for Northern Lebanon.

A signing ceremony was held today at UNRWA’s Lebanon Field Office in Beirut in which UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Karen AbuZayd, and the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Yoshihisa Kuroda, signed an Exchange of Notes.

This Japanese contribution will support the construction of temporary shelters for the displaced from Nahr El Bared camp, as well as two prefabricated schools in Northern Lebanon, the provision of psycho-social support for traumatized children and hygiene kits.

This contribution will promote peace-building and help improve living conditions for displaced families by providing them with secure housing pending their return to the reconstructed camp. It will also ensure access to formal education for Palestine refugee students for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year and will help the displaced children recover from the trauma of the war.

UNRWA’s Commissionner-General Karen AbuZayd said “with this generous donation, Japan is signalling its commitment to our emergency work in Lebanon and the Nahr el Bared project which will be the largest in UNRWA’s history. This is a major challenge and I am delighted that donors like Japan are offering us their support. My gratitude goes out to the people and government of Japan.”

Japan is an active and engaged donor to UNRWA. In 2007, Japan was the Agency’s ninth largest donor with total contributions of US$ 15 million, of which US$ 700,000 provided emergency shelters and non-food items in support of the Agency’s Flash Appeal for Lebanon.

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Not an official document
For more information please contact UNRWA Public Information Office
tel: 01-840462 ext 314. e-mail: h.samra@unrwa.org