Kuwait Contributes US$ 5 Million to UNRWA to Support Palestine Refugees in Syria

Richard Wright and the Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Ayyad SH A Alotaibi

The Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Ayyad SH A Alotaibi (right) hands a cheque in the amount of US$5 million to the Director of the UNRWA Representative Office in New York, Richard Wright (left) in respect of pledges made by Kuwait at the Fourth International Pledging Conference for Syria held in London on 4 February 2016.

 

NEW YORK [ ABN NEWS ] — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced a contribution of US$ 5 million received from the State of Kuwait in support of the Agency’s Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal. This follows pledges made by Kuwait at the Fourth International Pledging Conference in London earlier this year.

Acknowledging this generous donation from Kuwait Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl stated:

“I am very grateful for this renewed solidarity from the State of Kuwait towards Palestine refugees in Syria. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the government and people of Kuwait for this valuable support. It will allow us to responds to essential needs of some 440,000 Palestine refugees deeply affected by the dramatic conflict in Syria. This latest donation is a strong illustration of UNRWA’s trustful partnership with Kuwait.”

Kuwait has long been a consistent and reliable donor, contributing a total of US$ 45 million over three consecutive years in support of the Agency’s efforts to assist Palestine refugees in Syria. Additionally, a contribution of US$17 million from the State of Kuwait in 2015 enabled UNRWA to open its school-year on time.

In 2016, UNRWA is appealing for US$ 414 million to meet the minimum humanitarian needs of Palestine refugees affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria.

About UNRWA

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.