Pal-Think holds a dialogue with UNRWA's Commissioner-General on the agency's local and regional challenges

Gaza – Pal-Think for Strategic Studies, in cooperation with the German Friedrich Ebert foundation, organised a special dialogue session for representatives of a number of civil-society organisations with Mr Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, which took up “UNRWA's local and regional challenges”. Mr Krähenbühl touched on the challenges and commitments UNRWA faces in its five areas of operation where the Palestinian refugees are present, with a special focus on the situations in the Gaza Strip, whose blockade is entering its tenth year. The guest likewise exchanged with the participants in the meeting, of the representatives of a number of civil-society organisations, the ways of cooperation, the exchange of ideas, and the strengthening of coordination between the refugee-relief agency and all the sectors of Palestinian society. Mr Omar Shaban, director of the Pal-Think institution, opened the session welcoming the guest Mr Krähenbühl and Mr Bouchak, director of UNRWA operations in the Gaza Strip, affirming the importance of continuing the consultation and coordination between UNRWA and the civil-society organisations in a way that works on improving the services presented and helping UNRWA perform its work, whether in the field of presenting the basic services or in the field of providing protection for the Palestinian people as UNRWA's working charter provides.

Mr Krähenbühl began his talk by praising the attendees and affirming that he is here in order to listen to the opinions and proposals of Palestinian society, of those who live the suffering, for the sake of strengthening coordination and cooperation and exchanging ideas in a way that achieves the general interest. Mr Krähenbühl touched on the problems and challenges facing UNRWA in light of the escalation of the needs as a result of the conflicts and wars witnessed by some of the states hosting the Palestinian refugees, such as Syria for example. Mr Krähenbühl's word included a narration of some stories of success, creativity, and insistence that affirm the Palestinian refugees' keenness on continuing education despite all the circumstances — among them UNRWA's success in Syria in enabling 120 students from the schools of the Yarmouk camp in Syria to sit the final examinations — expressing his admiration for the iron will and the unlimited desire the Palestinians possess for learning and acquiring knowledge. Likewise many stories and examples that affirm that behind the destruction that has descended on the Gaza Strip there abide hope, love, and the inclination toward achieving the goals. Mr Krähenbühl affirmed the necessity of working so that the refugees' cause remains the focus of the world's attention amid its occupation with other issues that may be more pressing. He pointed out that the international support for UNRWA has risen in the last ten years, but that has been accompanied by a great increase in the needs as well, as the regional conflicts continue and cause the creation of immense humanitarian crises, which requires of the donor states the directing of additional resources to confront them.

The interventions of the participants in the meeting centred on the necessity of updating and developing the education sector in Palestine and the other areas of refuge, likewise the necessity of UNRWA exercising its duty in providing protection for them. And working also on smoothing the obstacles in the two subjects of movement and travel, and strengthening the networking between the Strip's schools and their counterparts in the West Bank and the diaspora. The attendees likewise pointed to the necessity of transmitting the Palestinians' success stories abroad and their adoption by the concerned bodies. It is recalled that Mr Krähenbühl assumed the post of Commissioner-General of UNRWA in March 2014; he is of Swiss nationality and possesses 25 years of experience in working in the field of relief, development, and human rights in many areas around the world.