AMMAN — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) urgently needs $14 million to prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak over an initial three-month period, according to an agency statement.

 

The flash appeal that the agency launched on Wednesday outlines the immediate priorities and financial requirements for health and other services related to the pandemic in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. This flash appeal is in addition to the regular UNRWA Programme Budget needs, the statement said.

 

“Overcrowded living conditions, physical and mental stress and years of protracted conflict all make the vulnerable population of over 5.6 million Palestine refugees particularly susceptible to the ongoing threats of COVID-19,”  UNRWA Acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders was quoted in the statement as saying.

 

“All of the agency’s five fields’ host countries and authorities have announced a series of robust measures to cope with the spread of COVID-19, which UNRWA will follow and factor into its operations,” Saunders said.

 

As of Wednesday, all UNRWA schools and other educational institutions across the five fields are temporarily closed; yet, all of UNRWA’s 144 health clinics remain fully operational and continue to provide essential primary health services, which now are more crucial than ever, to contain and address the spread of the ongoing pandemic, read the statement.

 

“Countless individuals and every government are involved in the massive global efforts to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of COVID-19, and UNRWA, our staff and the Palestine refugee community we serve are no different,” said Saunders.

 

“I humbly call on donors, whether governments, foundations or individuals to help UNRWA face what could become a disaster of unconscionable proportions in places like Gaza and Syria. COVID-19 has illustrated that no population is exempt and for a densely populated area like Gaza, already weakened by years of blockade, this could be disastrous. Gaza simply does not have the resources and means to weather such a story. Any contribution is gratefully received; every penny will make a difference,” Saunders said.

 

Amid the current global crisis, in response to the continuing critical needs of Palestine refugees and in alignment with the World Health Organisation and UN Preparedness and Response plans, UNRWA has developed and activated an agency-wide COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, according to the statement.

 

The plan and a comprehensive briefing update on COVID-19, along with a daily situational report are all available now on the UNRWA COVID-19 website page at: https://www.unrwa.org/covid_19.