![A Student walks down the stairs, at Nuzha Girls School, in Amman, Jordan. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FBRP45VXYWZ3PASVREOEFUGWJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b3d5ce6202ad50269d4a180cfde858511ec483351813fee8c18454005afad01&width=400&height=225)
![Students wave balloons for the arrival of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl at Nuzha Girls School, in Amman, Jordan. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3U3736ECUXLVLQA2PESO46AYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=34927b10b840cc5fdba5591c500c23e77ee8f062a780c445cae8a4cab5bb70cc&width=400&height=225)
![Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees returned to school in Jordan on Sunday as the embattled United Nations Relief and Works Agency highlighted the support of the UAE and other Arab states in keeping the schools open. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGNVK7WF2XSL4Z62UJ7ZILQTXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3415dc53172b2ea015d7905d0b4020408bf641ae52c9351f3cb925e089b14691&width=400&height=225)
![Pierre Krahenbuhl, centre, promised that UNRWA would do everything to “protect our flagship education programme”. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZSOKJGJJ5LHNQATGHMG5YEDEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d2758441feffce8624f8670c568b51197b4a1ca94e1b9034defaadd4bd31bc8&width=400&height=225)
![At a school in east Amman, children carried balloons, showed off their new backpacks and sang to mark the opening of the new school year. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PKNXQA6NCXMBBJRM6HAPGZUENM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0740fea723bd87fd06c90c1cf718554733b1211953589b6899df35b54f2287f9&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Krahenbuhl receives a gift during his visit at Al Nuzha Girls School, in Amman - one of 169 schools that almost did not reopen due to funding challenges. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJPUHUKRK64M37I4VGEKDPK54M.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec5a0cd5459bcd75fc22a05ee0312f8500d6823868cd74e3bffdb4b2f58d455d&width=400&height=225)
![The UAE provided $50m to UNRWA in 2019 and $50m in 2018, funds that were critical for the functioning of schools such as Al Nuzha. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QHU66RXTN2LRH537AXA6YVJS7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfd410e7c9075d00fbd18df1cc078835032aceea79b21c63fd348afa92f304b4&width=400&height=225)
![Students pose for a photograph. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PYFXSYPVKQU3JAEECSPDUXLLGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e59e2c45d52a877e478056889625fb7d184c36c6e7bed6c239a904851b57aaa5&width=400&height=225)
![Pierre Krahenbuhl meets some of the pupils. He says the UAE has been a very important and dynamic partner for UNRWA. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CSRUXSPZQMTIWBPV4HJJ7T4BFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=769a0ab1621af8d84739c6089c45443791b24dac00194ad7ba9c2cdd493b3ed3&width=400&height=225)
![A Student walks down the stairs, at Nuzha Girls School, in Amman, Jordan. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FBRP45VXYWZ3PASVREOEFUGWJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b3d5ce6202ad50269d4a180cfde858511ec483351813fee8c18454005afad01&width=400&height=225)
![Students wave balloons for the arrival of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl at Nuzha Girls School, in Amman, Jordan. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3U3736ECUXLVLQA2PESO46AYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=34927b10b840cc5fdba5591c500c23e77ee8f062a780c445cae8a4cab5bb70cc&width=400&height=225)
![Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees returned to school in Jordan on Sunday as the embattled United Nations Relief and Works Agency highlighted the support of the UAE and other Arab states in keeping the schools open. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGNVK7WF2XSL4Z62UJ7ZILQTXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3415dc53172b2ea015d7905d0b4020408bf641ae52c9351f3cb925e089b14691&width=400&height=225)
![Pierre Krahenbuhl, centre, promised that UNRWA would do everything to “protect our flagship education programme”. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZSOKJGJJ5LHNQATGHMG5YEDEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d2758441feffce8624f8670c568b51197b4a1ca94e1b9034defaadd4bd31bc8&width=400&height=225)
![At a school in east Amman, children carried balloons, showed off their new backpacks and sang to mark the opening of the new school year. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PKNXQA6NCXMBBJRM6HAPGZUENM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0740fea723bd87fd06c90c1cf718554733b1211953589b6899df35b54f2287f9&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Krahenbuhl receives a gift during his visit at Al Nuzha Girls School, in Amman - one of 169 schools that almost did not reopen due to funding challenges. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJPUHUKRK64M37I4VGEKDPK54M.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec5a0cd5459bcd75fc22a05ee0312f8500d6823868cd74e3bffdb4b2f58d455d&width=400&height=225)
![The UAE provided $50m to UNRWA in 2019 and $50m in 2018, funds that were critical for the functioning of schools such as Al Nuzha. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QHU66RXTN2LRH537AXA6YVJS7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfd410e7c9075d00fbd18df1cc078835032aceea79b21c63fd348afa92f304b4&width=400&height=225)
![Students pose for a photograph. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PYFXSYPVKQU3JAEECSPDUXLLGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e59e2c45d52a877e478056889625fb7d184c36c6e7bed6c239a904851b57aaa5&width=400&height=225)
![Pierre Krahenbuhl meets some of the pupils. He says the UAE has been a very important and dynamic partner for UNRWA. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CSRUXSPZQMTIWBPV4HJJ7T4BFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=769a0ab1621af8d84739c6089c45443791b24dac00194ad7ba9c2cdd493b3ed3&width=400&height=225)
![A Student walks down the stairs, at Nuzha Girls School, in Amman, Jordan. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FBRP45VXYWZ3PASVREOEFUGWJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b3d5ce6202ad50269d4a180cfde858511ec483351813fee8c18454005afad01&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian refugee schools in Jordan reopen despite US funding cuts
After funding was withdrawn by the US, it was uncertain whether UNRWA schools across the Middle East would be able to reopen
Taylor Luck
September 02, 2019
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