UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the contribution of Qatar to meet the emergency needs of the people in Gaza, saying that the donations will enable the UN humanitarian agency to help Palestinians in Gaza to address their difficulties in light of food crisis and global financial crisis.

Ban, in a statement issued here by his spokesperson, said, he "is honored to accept the generous sum of US$40 million as a contribution from the Emir of Qatar to United Nations humanitarian agencies for programs to meet the emergency needs of civilians in Gaza."

"The secretary-general is particularly grateful to Qatar for allocating US$10 million from the pledge to go to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)," the statement said.

CERF provides fast, reliable, equitable and targeted humanitarian assistance to emergencies around the world.

"The contribution is especially welcome, as it comes at a time when global humanitarian needs are expected to grow in light of the interconnected challenges of the food crisis, the global financial crisis, climate change and intensifying armed conflicts," the statement added.