The Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) raised some $ 3.18 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in May 2021. The record-breaking inaugural campaign Support for Palestine Refugees through UNRWA achieved this goal over a nine-day period, thanks to the generous support of the people of Singapore. The fundraising campaign ran from June 22 to 30, 2021. The check was presented to UNRWA to Ms. Tamara Alrifai, Acting Director of the UNRWA External Relations Department and Director of Strategic Communications / Porte – speech by Mr. Esa Masood, Managing Director of Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, Mr. Muhammad Faizal, Managing Director of RLAF and Po’ad Shaikh Abu Bakar Mattar, President of RLAF, at a virtual ceremony. This contribution will support UNRWA’s health, relief and social services programs for Palestinian refugees in the besieged Gaza Strip. The campaign, organized with the support of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and endorsed by the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Education, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, raised US $ 1 million in the hours that followed its launch on May 22. .

“The plight of the Palestinian refugees affected by the recent escalation of violence in Gaza has touched the people of Singapore and they are coming in force to help and demonstrate their compassion for all affected. We thank you for your overwhelming support and solidarity with the Palestinian refugees, ”said UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini.

“This is an important issue (for us) because we live in kindness and harmony in a multiracial, multi-religious society in Singapore, but the situation is different in Palestine. So this (RLAF Humanitarian Aid Fund) is one of the platforms for people here to show their concern and compassion to help and support the suffering Palestinians, ”said Mr. Muhammad Faizal, CEO by RLAF.

UNRWA has issued a humanitarian and early recovery appeal for US $ 164 million following the recent hostilities in Gaza. The appeal describes the needs for emergency shelter repairs, humanitarian assistance to displaced families, and emergency repair and maintenance of UNRWA facilities. In addition, funds will be needed to temporarily subsidize rents for Palestinian refugee families whose shelters have been completely destroyed or damaged in the form of cash assistance for transitional shelters.

Background information:

UNRWA faces increased demand for services resulting from an increase in the number of registered Palestinian refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and the deepening of their poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been overtaken by growing needs. As a result, UNRWA’s program budget, which supports the provision of basic essential services, is operating with a large deficit. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to make every effort to fully fund the Agency’s program budget. UNRWA’s emergency programs and key projects, which also operate with large deficits, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestinian refugees. Its mission is to help Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to realize their full potential for human development, while awaiting a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services include education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Sami Mshasha
Communications Director, Arabic Language Spokesperson Mobile: +972 (0) 54 216 8295 Office: +972 (0) 258 90724 Email: [email protected]

Tamara alrifai
UNRWA spokesperson Mobile: +962 (0) 79 090 0140 Email: [email protected]