UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Published purpose

October 2016 – The Syria Crisis has undermined security and stability in the Middle East and has resulted in unprecedented humanitarian needs. Now in its sixth year, the conflict in Syria has led to the worst displacement crisis in the world. Millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, stateless persons and asylum seekers in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey are vulnerable to violence, food and income insecurity, health risks, and sexual and gender-based violence. Canada is helping to reduce the vulnerability of millions of crisis-affected people, including Palestinian refugees from Syria, and especially women and children, through a broad spectrum of humanitarian assistance activities across Syria and in refugee hosting countries. GAC’s support to UNRWA’s emergency response in Syria and Lebanon is contributing to meeting the needs of Palestinian refugees. In Syria, project activities include: (1) providing emergency assistance to meet the basic needs of up to 430,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria, including food, healthcare, water and protection services; and (2) supporting up to 43,000 Palestinian refugee children in Syria in continuing their school education. In Lebanon, project activities include: (1) providing emergency assistance to meet the basic needs of up to 42,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria in Lebanon, including food, healthcare, water and protection services; and (2) supporting up to 6,000 Palestinian refugee children from Syria in Lebanon to continue their education at UNRWA schools.