Korea supports UNRWA’s cash assistance in Jordan

AMMAN — UNRWA Jordan on Wednesday signed a $400,000 agreement with the Republic of Korea, seeking to support the provision of cash assistance to Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) in Jordan to cover their essential needs. 

UNRWA cash programming remains the “most flexible, cost-effective and dignified means to meet the daily requirements of refugee and displaced populations”, according to a press release issued by the agency on Wednesday. 

The contribution comes at a critical time for the UN agency, which is currently facing an unprecedented funding shortfall threatening its ability to sustain its core services including emergency interventions, according to a statement by UNRWA. 

During the signing ceremony, Director of UNRWA Operations in Jordan Roger Davies thanked the Republic of Korea, noting that the donation “proves the commitment of the people of Korea and their friendship with the Palestinian community, encouraging other nations to come forward and support UNRWA in this tough time for the agency”. 

Elaborating on UNRWA’s partnership with South Korea, the official highlighted the “positive” results of the country’s $500,000 contribution in November 2017 to help ensure the continuity of the agency’s educational and health services to PRS in the Kingdom. 

For his part, South Korea's ambassador to Jordan, Lee Bom-yon, expressed his “delight” over the news of the positive results of the past deal, expressing hopes for similar results to arise from newly signed agreement.

Several Palestinian students benefiting from UNRWA’s programmes were present at the signing ceremony, where they thanked the South Korean ambassador for his support to the Palestinian people in Jordan. 

Shahed Abu Said, a 14-year-old student from one of UNRWA’s schools in the Kingdom, expressed her appreciation on behalf of all Palestinian students for Korea’s donation and their continuous support to the Palestinian cause. 

For his part, 23-year old Mahmood Abu Sbeih, a student at one of the agency’s vocational training centres, highlighted that the donation will help on expanding the centre, expressing his “gratefulness for Korea’s support to students not only at the elementary levels of education, but also in secondary stages”.