The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has approved an emergency grant of $500,000 in support of an initiative of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) to mitigate the effects of the blockade endured by Gaza's Palestinian refugees.
Over two-thirds of the 1.4 million residents of Gaza are refugees registered with UNRWA. The present ban on exports and restrictions imposed on imports has virtually destroyed the formal private sector, leading to dramatic rises in poverty and unemployment levels. As the blockade extends to materials and equipment needed to rebuild homes and infrastructure, reconstruction and recovery efforts are seriously compromised.
To mitigate the daily hardships endured by Gaza's Palestinian refugees, UNRWA is seeking support for the following priority interventions; Cash assistance or Grants to be given to approximately 65,000 families living in abject poverty to enable them to meet their basic needs.
In addition to food assistance, under the emergency plan, regular food parcels being supplied to needy families will be supplemented with canned meat to add much-needed protein to their diets and Job creation; UNRWA will secure temporary employment for 54,000 jobless refugees. The annual income per person will be approximately $1,000.