On 2 December 2014, Mr. Cherdkiat Atthakor, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organisations, opened the “Building Solidarity for Palestine Refugees” campaign reception.  The campaign is initiated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to commemorate the United Nations International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in 2014.  UNRWA selected an iconic photo, taken at an UNRWA’s girl school in Qabr Essit refugee camp, situated 15 kilometres from Damascus, Syria, to be projected on the walls of high-profile buildings of capitals/cities around the world, including Algiers, Beirut, Dubai, Jakarta, Marrakech, New York City, Seville, Tokyo, Vienna, and Bangkok.  In attendance are representatives from the Embassies that participate in the campaign, and representatives from the UN Agencies in Thailand, Council of Muslim Organisations of Thailand, and Council for Humanitarian Networking of Sheikhul Islam Office.

Thailand has made annual contributions to UNRWA since 1978, based on a firm commitment to our long-standing humanitarian tradition.  Since 2014, those contributions have increased to 40,000 USD annually.  This year, Thailand responded to the emergency flash appeal by contributing 100,000 USD to UNRWA, and an additional 100,000 USD to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, in order to address the most pressing humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza caused by the devastating impacts of the recent conflict in Gaza earlier this year.