The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced that its TV YouTube channel was awarded a Golden Play Button, a YouTube Creator trophy granted by Google to the YouTube channels with over one million subscribers.

Originally launched in Gaza in 2012 and developed in response to the emergency contexts in Gaza and Syria, UNRWA TV YouTube channel content has registered more than 260 million views and currently averages 150,000 visitors a day.

UNRWA said in a press statement that with the increased need for distance learning resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the channel’s relevance was yet again confirmed and its traffic increased.  The UNRWA TV Channel is evidence of the Agency’s commitment to provide a quality education for Palestine refugee children, including during emergencies. 

In thanking the communications team that is behind the UNRWA YouTube Channel, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said: “This is a super achievement! This award is a testimony of your hard work, professionalism, creativity and interaction with viewers - a testimony of your individual commitments and of your team work. It is the best expression of the work of UNRWA and what it stands for. So proud. Be proud.”

With the support of the UNRWA Department of Education, the UNRWA TV YouTube channel provides high-quality self-learning supplements for students, teachers and families in emergency situations who have limited or disrupted access to formal education.  Education in Emergencies (EiE) ensures that refugee children can access education even in unstable areas and in conflict and post-conflict settings, restoring a routine and giving children some sense of hope for the future. The channel also airs humanitarian communications materials to promote UNRWA services, donor support, advocacy and human rights topics.

In addition to Palestine refugee children attending UNRWA-administered schools, students in countries across the region use UNRWA educational content as a supplement to their regular curricula. This is an invaluable recognition of the Agency’s direct relevance and utility to children’s education in conflict areas and overall stability in the region.

UNRWA is experiencing a critical funding shortfall. The dedicated teachers and content creators who power UNRWA schools and services, such as the UNRWA TV YouTube channel are at risk.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.7 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.