UNRWA – Saudi Arabia contribution – press release

UNRWA REPORTS PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING $20 MILLION CONTRIBUTION

FROM SAUDI ARABIA FOR PEACE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME

      VIENNA,  17 January  (UNRWA) —  The United  Nations Relief  and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General, Ilter Turkmen, met yesterday in Vienna with a high-level delegation from the Saudi  Fund for Development headed by  Yousef Al-Bassam, Director-General of the  Technical  Department.     They  reviewed  the  Agency's   progress  in implementing projects valued at $20 million in the West Bank  and Gaza using Saudi assistance for the Palestinian people.

      Project funds earmarked for Gaza include support for upgrading  health services, constructing and providing  equipment for five Agency schools  and shelter rehabilitation.  In the  West Bank, project funds are being  used to upgrade four health centres and nine UNRWA schools, as well  as to construct and  equip five  Agency  schools and  a  polyclinic, and  to support  health institutions in Jerusalem.

      The contribution from Saudi  Arabia of $20 million is the largest from a single donor for UNRWA's Peace Implementation Programme which was launched in  October 1993  to  upgrade  local  infrastructure  and  create  jobs  for Palestinians, especially in the West Bank and Gaza.

      During  the  meeting, the  delegation also  finalized the  details for using  the $7.5  million contribution  of the  Saudi Government  to pay  the salaries of the Palestinian Police Force through the UNRWA.

      The UNRWA Commissioner-General expressed his appreciation to the Saudi Government for its generous support  to the Peace Implementation  Programme, as well as for its contribution to the Agency's regular programmes.

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