Narrative
Full Description
Project narrative
In 2017, the Chinese Government provided a $2 million grant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Iraq. The grant proceeds were used to provide medicine and scholarships to Palestinian refugees and to rehabilitate the Haifa Community Center (also known as the Haifa Club), a refugee resource center in Baghdad supported by UNHCR and the international NGO Islamic Relief Worldwide. The Haifa Club was established in 1973, but abandoned and damaged after the collapse of the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The newly-renovated community center was opened on July 2, 2018. The community center included a newly-improved community hall and sports facilities equipment in order to facilitate family gatherings, social cohesion, and interact between the Palestinians and Iraqis. From 2017 to June 2019, the Haifa Club assisted over 7,500 Palestinian refugees. On June 26, 2019, the Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao signed a certificate of completion for the project at the UNCHR Iraq office.