UNRWA ‘thanks’ Kuwait for $42.1 million contributions

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NEW YORK, Nov 22, (KUNA): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has expressed its deep gratitude to Kuwait for the extraordinary contribution of $42.1 million received on Nov 14, bringing the Kuwaiti contributions towards the UNRWA Programme Budget in 2018 to over $50 million.

“I would like to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to the State of Kuwait for its generous contribution to UNRWA core services for Palestine refugees,” Director of the UNRWA Representative Office in New York Peter Mulrean said in a press statment Wednesday.

“Kuwait’s steadfast and continuous support over the years has been a source of pride for the Agency and Palestine refugees, and we are deeply grateful to see that Kuwait has once again lent a helping hand at a time of historic dire needs for UNRWA and Palestine refugees.” The Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations had delivered a cheque to Mulrean.

The Permanent Representative of Kuwait Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi said: “We deeply value the efforts of the Commissioner- General Pierre Krahenbuhl and UNRWA staff towards ensuring the continuation of the critical work of the Agency. Their dedication and hard work is very much appreciated.”

Historic
Ambassador Al-Otaibi added, “This latest contribution is an expression of Kuwait’s continued commitment and historic support to the important work of UNRWA towards safeguarding the rights and dignity of Palestinian refugees, and stems from Kuwait’s firm and unwavering position in support of the Palestinian cause.”

This remarkable support by Kuwait comes as UNRWA faced in 2018 the most serious financial crisis in its history and will play a vital role in supporting the Agency’s core mandated services of education, health, relief an social services to over five million Palestine refugees in Gaza, West Bank including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Kuwait has long been an important and consistent donor to UNRWA through its government and through several Kuwait-based organizations such as the International Islamic Charity Organization, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the Kuwait Red Crescent.

The agency 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.

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