Day of UNRWA for Palestine Refugees

This commemorative postage stamp was issued in 1966 for use in the Gaza Strip under the administration of the United Arab Republic (UAR) to honor the vital humanitarian mission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Established by the UN General Assembly following the 1948 conflict, UNRWA began its field operations in May 1950 to provide direct relief, education, healthcare, and social services specifically to displaced Palestinians. By issuing a dedicated 10-millieme stamp explicitly inscribed with "PALESTINE," the postal administration highlighted the local population's direct relationship with the international agency and brought global attention to the ongoing refugee narrative.

The graphic layout features a large circular emblem on the left containing the specialized UNRWA insignia: a stylized human figure sheltered protectively beneath two cupped hands, framed by a traditional United Nations laurel wreath. It prominently includes the foundational year 1949 and the clear circular inscription "UNRWA FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES." The right side of the brown background displays the classic United Nations seal alongside the contemporary issue years 1966 and its Arabic equivalent ١٩٦٦. The Arabic inscription at the base reads "Wikalat al-Ghawth li-Laji'i Filastin 1949" (وكالة الغوث للاجئي فلسطين ١٤٩). Circulating widely on civil correspondence, this stamp functioned as an official acknowledgment of international humanitarian stewardship and community resilience.