A United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees launched an appeal on Tuesday for $26 million to improve the living conditions of approximately 18,000 Palestinian refugees living in a camp near Aleppo, Syria.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) launched the appeal in
Amman during a regular meeting of its advisory commission, attended by
co

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commissioner general, Karen AbuZayd.

The Neirab camp near Aleppo in northern Syria originally housed World War II troops, but was given to Palestinian refugees who fled their homes following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Six decades later, the refugees are still living in the same barracks, which have never been renovated.

The appeal is intended to fund the second phase of a two-phase plan to improve Neirab. The first phase is aimed at relocating 300 families from Neirab to new houses constructed on a plot of land made available by the Syrian government close to the nearby Ein al-Tal camp. The second phase targets the rebuilding of Neirab itself, including housing units and community facilities.

AbuZayd urged donor countries to support the implementation of the second phase of the project.

UNRWA's director in Syria, Panos Moumtzis, said the top priority for the refugees is the improvement of education and health facilities. He also said Neirab needs open public spaces, leisure facilities and nurseries.

UNRWA provides education, health care and social services to more than 4
million refugees and their descendants who were deported or displaced during two Arab-Israeli wars.

Syria houses approximately 430,000 Palestinians.