The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has made a contribution of EUR 2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of over 18,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) in Jordan.

The winterization support will enable the disbursal of winterization cash assistance to 4,699 PRS families, including 1,546 female-headed households and 8,217 Palestine refugee children. Beneficiary families will use this cash support for winter clothes, shelter accommodations, fuel, blankets and more.

In addition, this contribution will co-finance unconditional cash assistance requirements for the last three months of this year, providing 6,515 PRS, including 1,888 women and 2,953 children with daily essential food and non-food items.

“We are thankful that UNRWA is addressing the needs of vulnerable Palestinians, especially in regard to the rising costs in winter. UNRWA's work has a stabilizing effect on the ground and is absolutely essential. We are glad to support this important work through financial contributions to the Agency. Even in the times of the ongoing funding crisis, we remain a strong supporter of UNRWA and we will continue to support Palestine refugees in the future.“ said Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Amman, Dr. Florian Reindel.

“We highly appreciate Germany’s contribution to aid refugees either through winterization assistance or the cash assistance which refugees fully depend on to cover their most essential needs. This is a timely contribution, particularly when UNRWA is struggling to allocate resources to cover essential interventions to support the refugees amid its severe financial crisis,” said the Director of UNRWA Affairs, Marta Lorenzo.

In its fact sheet entitled “Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal 2021”, UNRWA said Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) in Jordan are confronted with increased hardship and vulnerability, due to long-term displacement and difficult socio-economic conditions, coupled with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA programme budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall.