May 5 Press Call: All Five UNRWA Field Directors to Discuss Vulnerabilities of Palestine Refugees Amid COVID-19, Emphasize Financial Needs
**MEDIA ADVISORY**
MAY 5 PRESS CALL: All Five UNRWA Field Directors to Discuss Vulnerabilities of Palestine Refugees Amid COVID-19, Emphasize Financial Needs
WASHINGTON/AMMAN — On Tuesday, May 5, at 9:00 a.m. EDT, the five field directors of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will address reporters for a briefing on the state of the Agency and Palestine refugees as the Agency responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will outline what is urgently needed from UN member states during the crisis.
The directors will join from UNRWA’s five areas of operation: Syria, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Jordan
The Agency continues to operate under extreme financial uncertainty following the 2018 decision by the United States to terminate its nearly 70-year partnership with the Agency. Without additional resources, UNRWA will have to dramatically scale back its services. This could impact the delivery of life-saving health services to refugee children and families fighting the virus, as well as risk the spread of COVID-19 to surrounding areas, including Israel.
After issuing an initial emergency appeal to supporters to help the Agency prepare for and respond to the outbreak over an initial three-month period, the Agency is preparing to issue a second, much larger appeal next week, with a request for additional funds to address the economic and humanitarian consequences of the pandemic.
WHAT: Press briefing on UNRWA’s role and needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic
WHO: UNRWA field directors in Gaza, West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan
Elizabeth Campbell, UNRWA director in Washington, D.C., who will moderate the discussion
Matthias Schmale, director of UNRWA operations in Gaza
Gwyn Lewis, director of UNRWA operations in West Bank
Amanya Michael Ebye, director of UNRWA operations in Syria
Claudio Cordone, director of UNRWA operations in Lebanon
Mohammed Adar, director of UNRWA operations in Jordan
WHEN: Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. ET
WHERE: Registration is required. Please register here.
If any questions, please contact Laila Mokhiber, Director of Communications, laila@unrwausa.org
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UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.6 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection, and microfinance.