United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

What is UNRWA?

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a relief and human development agency providing education, health, social services, protection, micro finance / micro credit, infrastructure and emergency aid to 4.7 million refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in the Middle East, with around 30,000 staff, almost all of them refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers.

What does the Representative Office to the EU do?

Strengthens the Agency’s visibility and interaction with key partners, mainly the European Union institutions, the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the United Nations System present in Brussels, Research, Policy and University Institutes, NGOs, and maintaining close liaison with Permanent Representations of EU Member States;
Facilitates the strategic positioning and contributions of UNRWA on critical political, humanitarian and developmental issues, and represents the Agency in the relevant fora;
Advocates UNRWA’s mandate within the EU, and among the key partners as well as with the wider public; informs, represents and where appropriate, coordinates UNRWA activities with the UN system and other strategic partners such as the various bodies of the European Union;
Provides information to the general public and news correspondents, universities, responds to queries, gives interviews and fulfils speaking engagements concerning Agency affairs;
Gives advice to UNRWA Headquarters on issues related to its interaction with the key partners and other EU donors, and thus assists in the knowledge-based management of the Agency. Assists UNRWA External Relations Department and Information Department.

UNRWA Website

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UNRWA Contact

UNRWA Representative Office to the European Union
Residence Palace (Letter Box 107)
8th floor
Rue de la Loi, 155
B-1040 Bruxelles
Tel: +32.2 290 34 30
Fax. +32.2.290 34 39
E-mail: info@unrwa.eu

Contact Persons:
Mr. Matthias Burchard,
Director
Ms. Elena Mancusi-Materi,
Senior Liaison Officer
Ms. Virginia Villar Arribas,
Liaison Officer
Ms. Bonsile Dube, Assistant