Word: unrwa
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...himself described the job as one "nobody in his right mind" would want. But in 1954 Lawyer Henry Richardson Labouisse of Wilton, Conn, became director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Beirut, and took on the thankless task of caring for more than 900,000 Arab refugees from Palestine. Labouisse gradually broke down Arab resistance to UNRWA, traveled all over Europe describing the plight of his refugees and gently dunning U.N. members for funds...
Only two nations-Indonesia and Finland-have withdrawn their forces and only for economic reasons. Morale is high, and relations among the units friendly. The men of UNEF handed Hammarskjold $3,600 to be used as Christmas gifts for the thousands of Arab refugee children in UNRWA's Gaza camps. Indian troops volunteered to relieve Danes, Norwegians, Canadians, Swedes, Brazilians and Colombians of their guard duty for the Christmastide. Said a member of Hammarskjold's staff: "All these people clearly want to be identified with the U.N. and to play their part in this unique operation. One after...
Beyond this explanation (but inextricably linked to it) is the fact that ten years of bitter sanctuary have wrought many changes in Palestine refugees. For eight years the refugees have been fed and cared for almost entirely by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Many had been farmers; some, in camps near Bethlehem and Tulkarm, had spent the years watching longingly from distances of a few hundred yards while the despised Israelis plowed land that once was theirs. At first the Arabs lived with the spittle of hate always moist on their lips. But as tireless UNRWA workers...
...society with its own peculiar codes and mores. A brisk business in forged food-ration cards grew up. UNRWA officials at one time estimated that there were 150,000 more ration cards than there were refugees. Refugee dead were seldom reported to UNRWA authorities; they were buried secretly at night so that their ration cards might be kept and sold. Successful entrepreneurs (i.e., those who amassed sufficient ration cards or who prospered in small businesses like basketry, carpentry, weaving or gambling) began to style themselves "sheiks," demanded that UNRWA officials consult them on community affairs...
...Imperialists and Zionists" the refugees gradually found themselves better off materially than they had been at home. They have a higher daily caloric ration (1,500-1.600) than some of the fellahin in Nasser's Egypt, better health and sanitation services than they had ever known in Palestine. UNRWA provides extra rations for pregnant and nursing women, midday meals and vitamin pills for children. UNRWA's education facilities are making the refugees an intellectual elite among Arabs. Nearly 100% of the male children attend school, almost 25% of the girls (Arab parents have still to be sold...