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Kuwait donates USD 2m to UNRWA

Kuwait Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad Al-Du'aij meets  Commissioner-General of UNRWA Peter Hansen
Kuwait Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad Al-Du'aij meets Commissioner-General of UNRWA Peter Hansen
(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) nas.ab.gb KUNA 251843 Sep 12NNNN