Amman, Oct. 14 (Petra) – Spanish Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Abed Rego, reviewed the services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) during a two-day visit to Jordan, reaffirming her country’s continued commitment to supporting Palestinian refugees and strengthening the Agency’s humanitarian and development role.

UNRWA said in a statement on Tuesday that the minister’s visit included tours of the Wadi Seer Training College, the Agency’s headquarters, the Manshiye Bani Hashim Preparatory Boys School, and the Jerash camp, where she observed the Agency’s education, health, and vocational training programs.

Rego met with students from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program, which equips around 1,400 young Palestinian refugees with skills demanded by the labor market, including land surveying, electric and hybrid vehicle maintenance, and nursing. These programs, UNRWA noted, help improve employment opportunities for graduates and enhance their contribution to the Jordanian economy.

The minister also visited Jerash camp, which includes five schools serving nearly 5,900 students, and a health center that provides services to more than 36,000 refugees inside and outside the camp. She met with a refugee family to learn about their living conditions and inspected the early detection program for children with disabilities, supported by Spain, which provides specialized care and promotes their social inclusion.

Rego expressed particular interest in UNRWA’s warehouses designated for humanitarian aid to Gaza, noting that the Agency possesses sufficient food supplies for three months and medical supplies for six months, ready for delivery once entry is permitted. She stressed the vital role UNRWA plays and urged Israel to allow the immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

She also called on international partners to maintain long-term support for UNRWA’s education, health, and development programs to ensure the continued provision of essential services to Palestinian refugees with dignity.

For his part, UNRWA Director of Affairs in Jordan, Olaf Becker, expressed appreciation for Spain’s consistent support, highlighting its recent decision to increase its financial contribution to the Agency by $11.7 million (€10 million). He said the funding will help sustain vital services in education and health, particularly early disability detection in children, legal assistance, and social services, in addition to improving living conditions in refugee camps.

//Petra// AJ