Agencies-Gaza post
AECID visits UNRWA in Jordan, West Bank
A high-level delegation from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) ended on Saturday a two-day visit to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) facilities in Aida refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and Baqa’a refugee camp in Jordan.
The commission was headed by the AECID Director Antón Leis García, attended by members from the agency in Jordan and from the occupied Palestinian Territory.
In the West Bank, the commission was welcomed by the Acting Director of UNRWA Affairs West Bank, Dorothee Klaus, who briefed them on the operational context, programmatic importance, accomplishments and challenges faced by both UNRWA and Palestine refugee camp citizens. The delegation was also briefed on protection-related challenges and risks across the occupied West Bank with a primary direction on Aida Camp.
In Jordan, the commission, joined by the Spanish Ambassador to Jordan, Miguel de Lucas, was accepted by the Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan, Olaf Becker, and UNRWA Chief of Staff, Ben Majekodunmi, at the UNRWA Baqa’a Preparatory Girls’ School where they were reported on the Agency’s programmes, in specific, issues relating to education, security and environmental health, as well as the AECID-funded scheme in Baqa’a Camp. This was followed by an interactive dialogue with members of the UNRWA Student Parliament and a visit to a UNRWA health centre.
Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs Olaf Becker stated, “UNRWA is grateful for the Spanish Government and for the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation for their strong support to UNRWA and Palestine refugees in the region. Such support to the Agency’s programme budget and projects ensures the continued provision of quality services, and modernization and contributes to stability in the region.”
AECID is currently supporting a scheme shown in the Baqa’a camp and is to be rolled out in many other camps following the end of the pilot project. The project includes a study on the feasibility of recycling opportunities, an assessment of the camp’s water collection network, the feasibility of water harvesting techniques in UNRWA facilities, solid waste administration and green spaces.
