UAE doubles aid package to UNRWA’s Gaza operation – Press release

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UNRWA’s Gaza operation receives double aid package from the United Arab Emirates

April 1st 2008: The United Arab Emirates has unveiled the second part of a four million US dollar assistance package to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for its work in Gaza. The funds will be spent on the Agency’s food assistance programmes.

Last week UNRWA received $3 million from the government of the UAE for food aid to Gaza’s 1.1 million refugees. Over 80% of the population of Gaza is dependent to some degree on UN food handouts.

Now, (on 1st April) UNRWA has signed an agreement with the recently established Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation, which is based in Abu Dhabi. Under this agreement under the Foundation will finance the purchase of a further $1 million of urgently required tinned meat, flour, sunflower oil and milk powder.

The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Karen Abu Zayd, said “We are deeply grateful to the President of the UAE, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, for this double gift from his new Foundation and from the UAE government. It will help us feed thousands of refugee families in Gaza who are suffering under the burdens of exile, poverty and blockade. The UAE has traditionally been a strong supporter of UNRWA and the Palestinian refugees we serve. These donations maintain that very welcome tradition”.

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