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UN chief calls on donors to contribute 100 mln USD to help Palestine children

Xinhua, August 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday called on all donors to contribute 100 million U.S. dollars to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) so that Palestine children can begin their 2015- 2016 school year without delay.

"The Secretary-General, who has personally spoken to several world leaders in the past few weeks on this topic, calls on all donors to urgently ensure that the 100 million U.S. dollars required be contributed to UNRWA at the earliest possible date so that the children of Palestine can begin their 2015-2016 school year without delay," said a statement of the secretary-general's spokesperson.

Ban also expressed his deep concern over the financial situation confronting the UNRWA, while stressing the important role of the agency.

"In a letter transmitting the UNRWA Commissioner-General's Special Report to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General expresses his deep concern over the financial situation confronting the Agency and the humanitarian, political and security consequences that will result if adequate and sustainable financing for 2015 and beyond is not made available immediately," said the statement.

Ban emphasized that at a time when crises and human suffering are growing throughout the Middle East, it is imperative that UNRWA, a pillar of stability for a registered population of some 5 million Palestine refugees, is provided with the resources necessary to enable it to continue providing services including education for half a million Palestine refugee children, it said.

The UN chief reiterated his full support for the Commissioner- General's proposals to ensure immediate attention to the gravity of the situation caused by UNRWA's unprecedented financial shortfall for 2015 and to address urgently the chronic funding issues faced by the Agency for 2016 and beyond, it said added.

UNRWA provides humanitarian assistance, human development, protection, and advocacy for some 5 million registered Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Approximately 98 percent of UNRWA's funding comes from voluntary contributions made by UN member-states and generous donations from private organizations and individuals, according to the agency's website. Endite