PRESS RELEASES

RAMALLAH, West Bank – In a ceremony at the Jalazone Refugee Camp today, U.S. Consul General Jacob Walles and Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) inaugurated a new health center built with funding from the U.S. government.  The clinic will serve 20,000 Palestinians, including 10,400 refugees registered in Jalazone camp, by providing expanded, improved treatment facilities for patients, including those with special needs. 

“The United States is committed to helping meet the needs of the Palestinian people,” Consul General Walles said.  “Each year, the United States sets aside a portion of its contribution to UNRWA’s General Fund for special projects.  I am pleased that one of those projects was this clinic, which will improve health services for thousands of Palestinians in the area.” 

The U.S. government provided $387,000 to pay for construction of the new clinic.   

Consul General Walles was greeted upon his arrival by residents of the camp, including the local scout troop.  He received a tour of the new center from Dr. Umaiyah Khamash, Chief of UNRWA health services in the West Bank, and met with the clinic’s health care staff.  He thanked the staff for their hard work and dedication.   

The United States, which is UNRWA’s largest bilateral donor, has contributed  $103.5 million towards the Agency’s work to date in 2007.  In 2006, the United States contributed a total of $137 million to UNRWA’s General Fund and Emergency Appeals for the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon.  

UNRWA is a relief and human development agency, providing education, health care, social services and emergency aid to over 4.4 refugees living in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. 

For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate’s Press Office at 02-622-6908 or 02-622-6909 or Public Affairs Officer Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm at 054-678-8456.