Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA plants olive tree for head of OPEC Fund for International Development
الأونروا تغرس شجرة زيتون على شرف رئيس صندوق الأوبك للتنمية الدولية
Arabic text:
15 July 2012, Vienna, Austria — Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA) has honoured Director-General Suleiman Al-Herbish of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) by planting an olive tree in Palestine in recognition of longstanding support for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ agency.
Speaking on behalf of the Agency’s Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi, Peter Ford said, “OFID has emerged as one of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA’s most consistent supporters, and a true friend of suffering Palestine refugees. Our thanks go to the Director-General for having spearheaded this great effort.”
The recognition is a tribute to OFID’s generous support over the last few years for Palestine refugees in the areas of microfinance, job creation, building schools, food aid, and scholarships.
Accepting the award, Al-Herbish said that it was “OFID’s privilege to be able to offer Palestinians hope for the future.” He also conveyed his wish that OFID’s partnership with Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA would continue to bear fruit. “Working together”, he said, “we can make a real impact on people’s lives.”
The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Dr. Zuheir Elwazer from the Mission of Palestine to Austria and Robert Turner, the director of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA operations in Gaza. Following the ceremony, the representatives reviewed current and potential co-operation in the future between OFID and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where the population continues to suffer as a result of severe restrictions imposed by Israel on exports and imports.
Background information
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
For more information, please contact:
Peter Ford
Representative of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA Commissioner-General
Mobile: +962 (0) 77 676 0062
Office: +962 (0) 65 80 8521
Sami Mshasha
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
Document Sources: OPEC Fund for International Development, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA)
Subject: Assistance, Economic issues, Education and culture, Food, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 15/07/2012