UK offers support in Education in UAE-Jordanian 'Mrejib Al Fhood' Camp for Syrian Refugees

Abu Dhabi, June 13, 2013 (WAM) - Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, has emphasized the UAE's commitment to providing appropriate living conditions to Syrian refugees through strengthening cooperation with the international community and international organizations. The Minister's remarks came after a meeting she held in London with Alan Duncan MP, UK Minister of State for International Development during which a UAE-UK joint project to improve educational services to Syrian refugees in the UAE-Jordanian refugee camp for Syrian refugees Mrejib Al Fhood, was announced. The British sponsored educational project in the camp, which was recently set up by the UAE in cooperation with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and includes among its many facilities two K-12 schools, was allocated a budget of AED 9.8 million (BP 1.78 million) that will be spent, through the UNICEF, towards providing vital school kits and supplies and teachers to around 6,250 students in the camp. Sheikha Lubna pointed out that when the UAE established the Mrejib Al Fhood camp in Jordan, it had in mind the creation of a suitable environment for its inhabitants, especially the children whose education was interrupted when they left their country. She praised the current joint cooperation between the UAE and the UK, adding that the humanitarian work arena is a fertile ground for strengthening all forms of international collaboration, adding that the UAE will continue to coordinate with all countries and humanitarian organizations as it works on alleviating the suffering of those affected by the Syrian crisis, pointing out that the creation of the camp was a clear translation of the directives of the country's wise leadership to provide all forms of assistance and support to the Syrians who were forced to flee their country. "When I recently visited the Mrejib Al Fhood UAE-Jordanian camp that was set up by the UAE in Jordan to help accommodate the Syrian refugees fleeing the unrest in their country, as much as I was saddened by the refugees' predicament, I saw a great degree of hope and enthusiasm in the smiles of the camp's children who were appreciative of the care that they were receiving by the remarkable team of UAE, Jordanian and international aid workers who are providing health and educational services to them" Al Qasimi said. Commenting on the announced project, Duncan said that "week after week, we have seen the number of refugees fleeing Syria continue to grow. Inevitably, it is children who suffer most - not only in the short term as they are forced to leave behind homes, friends and family, but also in the impact it has on their education. That not only limits their individual chances of finding work and building a better future for themselves, it also has long term implications for the generation that will be expected to rebuild their country once the conflict ends. "I'm delighted that we're in a position to work with the UAE on this vital program. Following the establishment of the UAE's development ministry, this is a very apt joint initiative. Not only is it an investment in the future of Syrian children who find themselves victims of a conflict not of their making, it is also an investment in the future of Syria as a whole" he added. The UAE and UK already have an agreement in place for joint work in the field of international development and humanitarian aid. – Emirates News Agency, WAM