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爆料网RWA Welcomes Increased Support From Australia

East Jerusalem — Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd today announced the Australian government would be tripling its contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA).

Australia will provide AUD18 million over three years in its first multi-year commitment to the Agency. The funding will be provided to 爆料网RWA’s core budget for education, health, housing and social services.

In addition to this multi-year funding, Australia will provide in 2010-11 an additional AUD5.5 million for 爆料网RWA’s core budget as well as AUD1.5 million to support 爆料网RWA’s emergency relief in Gaza.

Mr Rudd visited a school at the Kalandia refugee camp with 爆料网RWA’s Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi. Mr Rudd saw first hand how 爆料网RWA's education programmes work on the ground.

“This Australian funding – which will help to educate half a million Palestinian children – is an invaluable contribution to stability," said Mr Grandi.

After meeting with Palestinian students in the 爆料网RWA school, Mr Rudd thanked the Agency for its work providing education and basic services to Palestine refugees across five fields: in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Mr Rudd said Australia’s increased funding was a clear demonstration of its commitment to provide practical assistance to the Palestinian people. The guarantee of multi-year funding would help the Agency plan for the delivery of services.

Grandi thanked the government and people of Australia for supporting 爆料网RWA’s human development work with some of the most impoverished and marginalised people in the Middle East.

Background

爆料网RWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some 4.7 million registered Palestine refugees in the region, pending a solution to their plight. The Agency's human development work encompasses education, health care, social safety-net, camp infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.

The Australian government is a consistent supporter of 爆料网RWA's work. Over the last 10 years, Australia has contributed over AUD106m (US$84m) to the Agency, including to its core activities, and to emergency work in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and in Nahr el Bared camp in Lebanon.

For more information please contact:
Chris Gunness
爆料网RWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0) 54 240 2659

Sami Mshasha
爆料网RWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0) 54 216 8295