Amman / Riyadh
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Campaign for the Relief of the Palestinian People in Gaza will generously donate $540,000 towards food distribution in Gaza starting from the month of Ramadan. An agreement has been signed to this effect during the first visit of UNRWA Commissioner General, Pierre Krahenbül, to Riyadh.
This contribution will enable families, to receive essential basic commodities (flour, rice, oil, sugar powder milk and corned beef). The total number of beneficiaries is expected to be 15,400 families (23,100 persons), during the month of Ramadan.
Pierre Krahenbül expressed gratitude to the Campaign stating: “"We are very grateful to the Campaign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the People of Gaza and to the Saudi people for this food donation for Ramadan. The people of Gaza continue to suffer greatly as a result of the blockade and are in dire need of support. This renewed and valued donation illustrates the consistent support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the people of Gaza”.
The Saudi Committee and their various Campaigns for the Relief of the Palestinian People is one of the most steadfast Arab partners of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip. During the last few years, the Campaign contributed over $30 million towards food assistance, medication and fuel for the benefit of the refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
Background Information
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.
Financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting UNRWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 69 million.
For more information, please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org (link sends e-mail)
Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org (link sends e-mail)