The United Nations relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) officially opened a new playground at UNRWA’s Jalazon Basic Girls School today to mark the visit of the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, Jalazon refugee camp in 2018.
Gwyn Lewis, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, and Mohammad Mustafa, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), together with the popular committee of Jalazon camp, inaugurated the playground in conjunction with the beginning of the second semester of the scholastic year 2019\2020. The playground inaugurated today was the result of the joint efforts of UNRWA, PIF and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem.
On behalf of Palestine refugees, Lewis, expressed her gratitude to the British Consulate and PIF for their support and work to improve educational facilitates, and the British Royal Household for keeping refugee rights and needs at the top of their public agenda.
For his part, Mustafa said “we are happy with the opening of this playground, as our contribution to its rehabilitation comes as an expression of the PIF commitment to our people everywhere, particularly in refugee camps, and an affirmation of our continued support to improve their living conditions. The PIF strategy is based on ‘impact investing’, especially in the entrepreneurial sector, support for emerging and existing projects and investing in strategic sectors, is always supported by our corporate social responsibility policy, which we are proud to see one of its forms here, as is the case in the economic empowerment program for refugees in Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which we are proud of its continuous achievements. We highly appreciate and thank all those who support our refugee communities”.
Prince William visited the occupied Palestinian territories on 27 and 28 June 2018, during which he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and visited the old city of Jerusalem, in addition to his visit to UNRWA’s Health Centre and Basic Girls’ School in Jalazon camp, Ramallah.
Building on Prince William’s visit, the British Consulate General is preparing to host his father, Prince Charles, next Friday in Bethlehem, at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. During this visit, he will have the opportunity to hear directly from a wide range of individuals from across Palestinian society, including refugees.
The UK is a long-term supporter of UNRWA and Palestinian refugees, providing £65.5m in 2019 in Gaza, the West Bank and the region. Making the UK one of the top five donors to UNRWA. This support helps UNRWA provide basic services in education, secondary health care and social relief services.
