US Government Announces $50.8 Million Contribution to UNRWA – UNRWA press release

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US Government Announces $50.8 Million Contribution to UNRWA

Gaza – Karen Koning AbuZayd, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, today thanked the government of the United States of America for their contribution of $50.8 million to UNRWA’s Emergency Appeal for 2006, which supports UNRWA’s humanitarian relief operations, benefiting Palestine refugees. The contribution will assist with the provision of emergency food, employment, health and other refugee services.

UNRWA recently revised its Emergency Appeal for 2006, increasing the level of funding sought from $ 95.4 million to $170.7 million, in light of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory. With this contribution, UNRWA’s Emergency Appeal will be funded up to 53%, reaching $90 million dollars.

Commenting on the donation, AbuZayd said “UNRWA wishes to thank the American Government for its generous contribution. It arrives at a time of severe deprivations among Palestine refugees in West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”

This pledge is an increase of $30.8 million dollars over the US Government’s 2005 contribution to UNRWA’s Emergency Appeal and is in addition to $80 million contributed this year to UNRWA’s General Fund. It is the latest in a long history of support for the Palestine refugees by the US Government, which has provided support to UNRWA’s General Fund and emergency projects for many years.

UNRWA is a relief and human development agency, providing education, health care, social services and emergency aid to over 4.3 million refugees living in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic.

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UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East