Netherlands supports education of Palestine refugee children from Syria

AMMAN — The Kingdom of the Netherlands on Tuesday contributed $2.3 million to support the education of Palestine children refugees from Syria in Jordan. 

The contribution includes support for the rehabilitation and maintenance of 82 buildings housing 141 schools, in addition to the provision of furniture and educational tools, an UNRWA statement said.

The contribution also supported the provision of 1500 school-kits, including bags and stationary, to Palestine refugee students displaced with their families from Syria and attending UNRWA schools in Jordan.

At a ceremony held at Zarqa Preparatory Girls School, Dutch Ambassador Barbara Joziasse said: “Safeguarding UNRWA’s ability to sustain service provision to its vulnerable target groups in Jordan and those arriving from Syria is important for the Netherlands. In addition, we in Jordan are particularly focusing on their children as they are the future and need to have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential. Therefore, one of the core priorities of our programme is to secure access to quality education in safe spaces.”

“Throughout several interventions, the Netherlands aims at protecting this increasingly vulnerable group of Palestinian refugees from Syria from dangers of exploitation in difficult times,” she added.

Affirming the importance of UNRWA’s role in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need, Joziasse also highlighted the Netherlands’ support to UNRWA across the region.

Director of UNRWA operations in Jordan Roger Davis expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, saying: “The long-lasting successful partnership and support by the Netherlands to Palestinian refugees is fundamental at a time when UNRWA continues to reach to its traditional donors as part of its ‘Dignity Is Priceless’ global campaign. 

“This donation has enabled UNRWA in Jordan to rehabilitate and maintain over 80 per cent of its schools, at a time when UNRWA is experiencing an unprecedented financial crisis. The new educational tools will enable students to experiment with and learn advanced technological and communication skills,” he concluded.