The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has just disbursed a contribution of US$ 12.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
This extraordinary financial contribution will help the Agency continue to provide critical humanitarian services and operations for the remainder of 2019 in the areas of primary healthcare, education, and social services across its five fields of operation. This is the second contribution by the UAE to the Agency this year and is one of four disbursements totaling US $ 50 million.
“This generous donation could not have come at a more important time for the Agency and for Palestine refugees,” said UNRWA Acting Commissioner-General Mr. Christian Saunders. “UNRWA is doing all it can to overcome the worst financial crisis in its 70-year history and the UAE’s disbursement of funding is a most welcome demonstration of confidence in the organization and its management.”
The UAE announced its pledge of US$ 50 million in July, matching the extraordinary contribution made by the Gulf country to the UNRWA programme budget in 2018. Additional disbursements are expected before the end of 2019, making the UAE a top donor to the Agency for the second year in a row. In 2018, the UAE was the 6th largest contributor to UNRWA.
The Acting Commissioner-General expressed his deep appreciation on behalf of the 5.5 million Palestine refugees served by UNRWA.
Original source: UNRWA
Published on 21 November 2019
