UNRWA extols Kuwait's historic support

CAIRO, Sept 11 (KUNA) -- Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees' (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl has expressed his gratitude to Kuwait for its significant backing to the agency.
Krahenbuhl made the statement in an address during the 150th sessions of the Arab foreign ministers council held in Cairo Tuesday.
The agency's official thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for "exceptional" donations worth USD 50 million.
He also commended efforts of the rest of Arab League member states made for further fundraising to the agency which suffers from a critical financial crisis.
He described the financial situation of the agency as catastrophic, particularly in the wake of the US decision last January to end funding to the agency.
Krahenbuhl added that a campaign was launched to overcome the annual deficit reaching USD 446 million.
He pointed out this campaign comes side by side with the additional funding from other donors to help the agency open its schools for 526,000 students as planned.
The US decision to stop its donation will not affect the agency's determination to offer services to the Palestinian refugees and to carry out the assigned missions, he made clear.
He noted that the UNRWA needs additional USD 186 million to continue providing educational and health services to millions of Palestinian refugees, calling for Arab countries to increase their support. (Pick up previous) msh.rg.hm