Amman – U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells inaugurated today a new school in Nuzha for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The United States provided the $1.9 million needed for the construction and furnishing of this state-of-the-art facility that replaced three older school buildings.
Ambassador Wells highlighted the importance of this project, saying: “Education is a cornerstone of the essential services that UNRWA provides to 120,000 Palestinians refugees students in Jordan, and more than 500,000 in this region. The United States government is proud to be a part of this effort.”
UNRWA’s Director of Operations in Jordan, Roger Davies, Director General Mahmoud Aqrabawi of the Government of Jordan’s Department of Palestinian Affairs, and other school and community representatives were present for the inauguration.
The United States places special focus on education, with the aim of providing Palestinian refugee students better educational facilities. The new Nuzha School is a prime example of U.S. support, as it directly benefits more than 2,000 enrolled pupils and offers a superior educational experience with the latest technology in a safe and engaging environment. The design of the building also ensures full access to the new facility for disabled students.
The United States is the single largest bilateral donor to UNRWA. Thus far in 2015 the United States has contributed nearly $340 million to UNRWA. When budget shortfalls threatened to delay the opening of UNRWA schools, the United States provided $15 million as part of a multi-donor effort to ensure that UNRWA schools opened on time.
