14 APRIL 2021
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
/…
Questions and Answers
/…
Question: On Palestine and UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), so, last week — and you talked about it — the US donated $150 million, I think, if I’m not mistaken. How disappointed are you, actually, given the fact this number is not even… it’s almost half of the… what they were giving before they stopped and given the fact, also, that the US aid to Israel is $3.6 billion, and it doesn’t go actually to the poor people in Israel. It’s mostly military aid. So, can you…
Spokesman: The history of bilateral aid between the US and Israel is… has been clear for a long time. Our focus is on what we can get for UNRWA. We’re grateful for this… I think, this return of the United States to UNRWA and a very vocal return.
Obviously, as with any donors, we’re happy when we get money. We’d be happier if we got more money. I mean, that’s a fact. But we very much hope that the US decision will also move other donors who had left when the US left to return and return with generosity.
/…
For information media. Not an official record.
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Global Communications, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Country: Israel, United States of America
Subject: Assistance, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 14/04/2021
URL source: https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/db210414.doc.htm