UNRWA

As a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948, Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes and settle in town and villages of the Arab world and elsewhere. Some 300,000 Palestinian refugees live in crowded camps. Since 1950 the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East has been assisting refugees. At that time, says Mr. Giacomelli, the main concern was to provide them with food, shelter and clothes, now UNRWA offers many other programmes and services to refugees in the fields of education, health and social assistance.