LOC18:43
15:43 GMT
(With photos)
AMMAN, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait offered on Tuesday financial
assistance amounting to USD two million to the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as part of the
country's annual contributions to the agency.
Kuwait Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad Al-Du'aij handed Peter Hansen,
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, a check of the funds during their meeting at
Kuwait Embassy here.
Speaking to KUNA after the meeting, Mr. Ford appreciated Kuwait's generous
contributions to his humanitarian organization over the last decade.
The regular annual contributions being offered by Kuwait helps the agency
continue offering services to some five million registered Palestinian
refugees across the Middle East, he said.
"The State of Kuwait is one of the biggest Arab donors for the
organization. We cannot forget the generous donation of USD 34 million offered
by His Highness the Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in
2009 in the wake of the Gaza crisis," Ford recalled.
"The funds offered today will help the agency curb its budget deficit this
year estimated at USD 50 million," he said, noting that it will be a difficult
year for the organization due to the economic turmoil in some European donor
countries as well as the crisis of Syria.
These conditions forced the agency to appeal for additional USD 53 million
to cover the costs of its humanitarian effort for some 500,000 Palestine
refugees across Syria, he added.
UNRWA views with increasingly grave concern the situation in Syria,
particularly as regards the implications for the stability and protection of
the refugees; it's also concerned about the safety of its staff, the security
of its facilities, and about humanitarian access to affected refugees.
In similar statements, Ambassador Al-Du'aij affirmed Kuwait's determination
to continue support to the Palestinian refugees through the agency.
"Under the wise leadership of HH the Amir the State of Kuwait spares no
effort in easing the suffering of the Palestinian people particularly the
refugees," he said.
Ambassador Al-Du'aij praised the UNRWA relief effort in the fields of
education, health and social care for the Palestinians in the five areas of
the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. (end)
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