UNRWA Representative Office: Islamic Help CEO Saif Ahmad, United Muslim Relief president and CEO Dr. Abed Ayoub, Baitulmaal Executive Director Suleiman Alghanem, Life for Relief and Development CEO Abdallah Boumediene, and Talat Shaikh from the Muslim Community and Education Centre.
On August 27, 2014, a coalition of five Muslim relief organisations signed a memorandum of support for the recovery of the Gaza Strip, contributing US$ 500,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The contribution will be used for food assistance which is the greatest need in Gaza, non food items such as fuel and psychosocial support for the Gazans after the recent 50 day attack. UNRWA officials say that donations cannot keep up with demand as 100,000 Gazans are still housed in UN shelters. Import and export out of Gaza is at a virtual stand still. On Wednesday, September 10, 2014, Helping Hands Relief and Development (HHRD) also presented UNRWA with $50,000 in assistance which was approved in August, 2014. According to UNRWA, HHRD has worked with UNRWA to fund scholarships in Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon since 2012 and funded a school feeding programme in Gaza for Palestine refugees in 2013. This recent contribution will support nearly 4,500 food rations for 642 internally displaced people in Gaza who are currently living in UNRWA emergency shelters. The contribution will also cover important non-food items—particularly hygiene kits—for another 75 families, or approximately 375 people. After a three week delay the school year started for 240,000 school children in the Gaza strip. UNRWA runs 252 of the 600 primary and secondary schools in the Gaza strip. 90 schools were used as shelters for displaced Gazans during the recent conflict. Six of these shelters were bombed, killing several civilians and injuring many others. “In Gaza, conflict has profoundly affected the traditional learning environment and delayed the academic year for almost three weeks,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl. "But after the traumatic 50 days of brutal conflict, of death, destruction and massive displacement, including to many of our schools, we are determined to give the children a sense of renewed hope and better prospects by opening the schools so soon again." Children saw their loved ones die in front of their eyes during most of the conflict. Many have witnessed three wars in their brief lives. Providing a sense of safety in a very unstable atmosphere is of vital importance. UNRWA employs 200 local counsellors to support traumatized children, parents and teachers as they deal with the aftermath of the violence that killed over 2000 people. UNRWA presence in the Palestine started in 1949. According a 2011 UNESCO report, almost 83% of learners reported feeling nervous; 57% of them did not feel safe at school, 67% felt unsafe traveling to and from school and over 70% had nightmares and feared another war. Learning outcomes also suffered: almost 77 % of teachers at primary, preparatory and secondary levels reported lower performance levels in their students “most of the time” or “always”. One-quarter of university students surveyed reported feeling little hope in the future. “Before the war, only one or two students out of 100 in my classes would fail,” said one university professor. “Now more than 12 out of 100 students fail.” This was after the Operation Cast Lead. ‘To help children and their families, UNRWA counselors provide psychological first aid, orientation and advice to parents, and individual counseling to those that suffer from psychological distress.’ Some children wake up screaming at night, others can’t fall asleep out of fear, days are hard as well with some children having burst of aggression, nervousness, or restlessness. Through play, relaxation, drawing, storytelling and meditation, the counselors engage in psychosocial activities with children. The agreement signatories in Washington D.C. included Islamic Help CEO Saif Ahmad, United Muslim Relief president and CEO Dr. Abed Ayoub, Baitulmaal Executive Director Suleiman Alghanem, Life for Relief and Development CEO Abdallah Boumediene, and Talat Shaikh from the Muslim Community and Education Centre. Two of the organizations are British based charities. Muslim relief coalition for Gaza spokesperson Oussama Mezoui said, “In working together with UNRWA, which has a proven track record in Gaza, we can ensure that essential aid is getting to those most in need. The first stage is to work on the emergency response and to ensure families are fed, provided with clean water, and have access to essential healthcare. Once this is done, we will look to work on reconstruction projects that will enable Gaza to get back on its feet.” A contract signing ceremony for the HHRD-UNRWA project was also held, which was attended by Asif Khan and Ghazala Ali of HHRD Mid-Atlantic Region. in addition to the $50,000, HHRD is sending convoy of trucks from Jordan to UNRWA in Gaza of non-perishable food items worth around $115,000. “More items will be sent from Jordan in the near future,” said Asif Khanof HHRD.“Through continuing generous giving from our benefactors and partners like UNRWA, we will continue to work hard to cater to the needs of as many people as possible; helping save the lives of hundreds,” Mr. Khan said. With winter arriving soon, the Director of the UNRWA Washington representative office, Matthew Reynolds, said that despite the current ceasefire, the suffering of Gaza’s population continues. “These civilians have lost everything—many leaving their homes with literally only the clothes they were wearing,” Mr. Reynolds said. “Providing them with non-food items like blankets, jerry cans for water storage, diapers and family hygiene kits are the basics needed for survival and a start on the long road of recovery.” Other Muslim Relief organizations such as Islamic Relief and Zakat Foundation of America are also long term partners of UNRWA as it is the only organization that has the clout and say with the Israeli Defense Forces to get humanitarian supplies in great quantity into the Gaza Strip. To donate to the people of Gaza visit www.unrwausa.org