UNITED STATES PLEDGES ADDITIONAL USD 10 MILLION TO SUPPORT UNRWA
Ronan Farrow, Special Advisor on Global Youth to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced at UNRWA’s “Engaging Youth” conference an additional contribution of USD 10 million to the Agency‚s General Fund, which brings the United States government’s total contribution to UNRWA thus far in 2012 to USD 65 million. The conference was held on 19-20 March in Brussels.
Contributions to the General Fund are a critical means of supporting UNRWA’s work with Palestine refugees, particularly youth. Sixty per cent of UNRWA’s General Fund budget is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of the over 480,000 children who attend UNRWA schools.
Mr. Farrow called on UNRWA to give young Palestine refugees a seat at the table in discussing UNRWA’s critical programmes and initiatives. He highlighted the importance of education as a tool to empower youth as they prepare to enter the job market and to be a force for positive change.
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Mr. Filippo Grandi, expressed his gratitude for the crucial support extended by the United States. “I’m heartened that this donation came during such an important conference. The United States remains UNRWA’s largest bilateral donor and this latest contribution again demonstrates America’s strong support to the Agency and its activities, of which improving the lives of Palestinian refugee youth, and the opportunities open to them, is such an important part.”
The United States is UNRWA’s largest bilateral donor, and is a consistent supporter of both the General Fund and programmes targeted more specifically to address the needs of Palestine refugee youth.