[09/February/2010]

AMMAN, Feb 9 (Saba) -- Newly-instated UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi said Tuesday, that the agency requires around USD 100 million to ensure its aid to displaced Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, hailing relief from Arab Gulf states, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

He told a press conference at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East headquarters in the Jordanian capital, that UNRWA needs 20 percent more than what it was set out to receive, to maintain its aid to more than four million refugees.

Half of the required amount will target maintaining the standards of services to the displaced, while the other half will aim to improve these standards, he added.
The UN official also hailed the support provided by states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who he said have been extremely generous in supporting projects in the West Bank and Gaza, stressing the importance of backing UNRWA in its services which cover sectors such as, health, education and social affairs.

UNRWA has been providing assistance to 200,000 students in Gaza, and has been distributing humanitarian, health and social assistance to Gazans, along with other humanitarian agencies since Israel's siege on the region, he added.

Grandi described the state in Gaza as detrimental, in light of the siege which has prevented the entry of building materials required to rebuild the damage which has affected the region after the Israeli war.

The UN official he was set to make visits to the European Union headquarters and the Gulf to encourage more donations to UNRWA.

On donations made at the Sharm El Sheikh Donors Conference, he said that only a little of the amount of USD 4.5 billion reached UNRWA, and that this will be aimed at building schools and social centres in Gaza.

Kuwait is regarded one of the major contributors to UNRWA, providing huge amounts to the fund on an annual basis.

Saba