UNRWA – Japan pledges $8 Million – Press release

JAPAN PLEDGES $8 MILLION FOR 1995 REGULAR PROGRAMME AND PEACE

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME OF UNRWA

VIENNA, 12 September (UNRWA) — The Government of Japan has pledged $18 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for 1995. The pledge includes $11 million for the Agency's regular programme in 1995 and $500,000 for university scholarships for Palestine refugee students.

Japan had also pledged $6.5 million to the Agency's Peace Implementation Programme, including $4.2 million for the Gaza Strip to construct and equip three new schools and to improve sewerage and drainage in Beach camp. The balance of $2.3 million has been allocated to projects of the Programme in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank.

Projects include constructing and equipping libraries and science laboratories in UNRWA schools and upgrading workshop equipment at the Agency's Wadi Seer Training Centre in Jordan, upgrading solid waste disposal equipments and improving water supply for refugee camps in Syria, as well as other projects in Lebanon and the West Bank.

The Government of Japan earlier contributed food assistance to UNRWA valued at about $9.1 million for 1995 and contributed $2 million towards the relocation of the Agency's headquarters to the area of operations. The new pledge brings Japan's 1995 pledges and contributions to $29.1 million.

In 1994 Japan ranked as the second largest single donor country to UNRWA after the United States. With this pledge, Japan is also the second largest donor for phase II of the Peace Implementation Programme.

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