UNRWA Expects Indonesian Private Sector Awareness For Palestinian Refugees

Jakarta, June 24 (Antara) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) expects to raise Indonesian private sector awareness to help the Palestinian refugees in the Near East by building partnership. "We understand that Indonesia has high interest in their Muslim brothers in Palestine in the Near East. Therefore, the agency is hoping to raise greater awareness among the Indonesian private sectors," the agency`s Chief Partnerships division spokesperson, Lionello Boscardi, stated here on Tuesday. In addition to raising awareness, the agency is also seeking involvement of the Indonesian civil society in order to maintain their support for the Palestinian refugees. In Indonesia, the agency has been working with the Dompet Dhuafa Alms Foundation for a fund-raising program, "Break your fast with brothers in Gaza," which will be held in the coming Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan. Another program that will be carried out is "Back to school campaign" in September. In raising more funds to assist the Palestinian refugees, the agency is also cooperating with Muhammadiyah, one of the largest Muslim communities in Indonesia, noted Boscardi. "In November, last year, Muhammadiyah supported the agency by providing US$23 thousand for the Palestinian refugees," Boscardi added. Indonesia alone has been providing assistance worth US$100 thousand to the agency every year, in 2012 and 2013, Boscardi claimed. "But, the main issue is to raise awareness among the civil society to assist the Palestinian refugees that are in need of education, health, and other humanitarian assistance that is hard for them to get," added Boscardi. The UNRWA for Palestine refugees is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from the UN member states. The UNRWA also receives some funding from the regular budget of the United Nations, which is used mostly for international staffing costs. The humanitarian service by the agency is provided directly to the refugees in five areas: the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan by empowering almost 31 thousand staff to assist some five million refugees. The Agency`s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, as well as microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict. Boscardi stated that currently, the agency needs at least US$69 million to cover the core services, including payment of salaries to its staff, who are mostly refugees themselves.