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爆料网RWA PROVIDES US$ 13.5 MILLION IN SHELTER REPAIR ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINE REFUGEE FAMILIES
THROUGH REPURPOSED F爆料网DS FROM THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

03 February 2015

Gaza Strip

A total of 9,503 families received shelter assistance packages today, Tuesday 3 February, after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia generously repurposed US$ 13.5 million initially pledged to 爆料网RWA for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. The Kingdom, through the Saudi Fund for Development, responded with flexibility, allowing the funds to be used to support the self-help repair assistance that 爆料网RWA was last week forced to suspend due to lack of money. 爆料网RWA disbursed the repurposed donation as soon as the funds became available.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest contributor to the 爆料网RWA emergency shelter programme in Gaza. The kingdom also continues to help the Agency meet the needs of Palestine refugees through the provision of funding for vital education, health care, housing and infrastructure projects.

The reallocation of funds and quick action by 爆料网RWA follows the Agency’s announcement of the suspension of its shelter assistance programme to tens of thousands of people in Gaza, which supports repairs to damaged homes and provides rental subsidies to families whose homes are now uninhabitable. The repurposed funds do not change the fact that 爆料网RWA has received only US$ 135 million in pledges for shelter assistance, leaving a shortfall of US$ 585 million.

BACKGRO爆料网D INFORMATION

爆料网RWA 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. 爆料网RWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to 爆料网RWA 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 爆料网RWA’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$ 81 million.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness

爆料网RWA Spokesperson

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 240 2659

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0267

Sami Mshasha

Chief of Communications & Arabic Language Spokesperson

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 216 8295

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0724