AMMAN, Sept 22 (KUNA) Kuwait has donated a USD 15 million to support and to enable the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to help more than half a million Palestinian students to get their education this year.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad AlDuaij handed over this sum of money to the representative CommissionerGeneral of UNRWA Omar AlRifai, on Tuesday.
AlDuaij told KUNA that this donation was made under the direction of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad AlJaber AlSabah who always supports the Palestinian cause. On his part, AlRifai expressed appreciation to Kuwait's generous donation that would help the aid agency to expand its operations in the region and to give basic needs to the Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA is facing a budget deficit of more than USD 101 million which led to the shutting down of 700 schools and 123 health centers in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States. UNRWA also receives some funding from the Regular Budget of the United Nations, which is used mostly for international staffing costs.
The Agency's services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflicts. (end) ab.nfm
