Updated 10 July 2013
On 3 July 2013, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) visited The World Federation office in Stanmore, London. President of The World Federation, Dr. Asgar Moledina and Head of International Relief and Development, Anisa Kanji welcomed and met with UNRWA’s two representatives - Matthias Burchard, Director of UNRWA’s representative office in Brussels and Rosa Bahl, Associate Liaison Office of the Partnerships Division.
Mr. Burchard provided some background information about UNRWA who offers assistance, protection and advocacy for some 5 million registered Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The Agency currently operates or sponsors over 900 installations with nearly 30,000 staff across the five fields. Mr. Burchard also spoke about the activities of UNRWA including work in the areas of health, education and aid for those struggling with poverty.
More than 1.4 million refugees, around one third of the total, live in 58 recognised camps, and UNRWA's services are located in or near these areas. Unlike other United Nations organisations that work through local authorities or executing agencies, UNRWA provides its services directly to Palestine refugees. It plans and carries out its own activities and projects, and builds and administers facilities such as schools and clinics.
The World Federation has been working with UNRWA in the Gaza Strip since 2009:
• July 2009 – Funded the repairs and renovations of 21 homes damaged by conflict
• August 2010 – Provided food ration baskets to 807 refugee families as part of our annual Ramadhan Relief Program
• February 2013 – Provided food aid to 100 refugee families
Dr. Asgar Moledina relayed information about The World Federation including its history, its structure and its activities. Discussions were held about the conflict in Syria and the plight of the Syrian refugees. UNRWA’s sister organisation, UNHCR oversees aid to Syrian Refugees.
The World Federation was very pleased to receive UNRWA and sincerely thanks Mr. Matthias Burchard and Ms. Rosa Bahl for spending an afternoon at The World Federation office in an effort to strengthen our working relationship to help the people of Gaza.
This Ramadhan, The World Federation will once again partner with UNRWA to provide families in Gaza with food ration baskets as part of our annual Ramadhan Relief Program.
RAMADHAN RELIEF FUND: PLEASE DONATE
The World Federation’s annual Ramadhan Relief Fund helps thousands of struggling families by providing them with food rations, iftaars, and other essentials to make the Holy month of Ramadhan a little easier. Your donation assists families who desperately need respite from the hardships of their lives. For as little as £30 GBP / $45 USD-CAD, you can feed a family of four for one month.
DONATE ONLINE:
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JAMAAT TREASURER
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For more information, please email relief@world-federation.org