Washington: The United States on Friday announced it was providing an additional USD 55 million to a UN programme aiding Palestinian refugees.
Assistant Secretary of State Eric Schwartz said the funds would go through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The United States, UNRWA`s largest donor, will give USD 30 million to UNRWA`s general fund, which provides services to Palestinian refugees across the region, and USD 25 million to its emergency appeal for the West Bank and Gaza.
This will bring total US contributions to UNRWA thus far in fiscal year 2010 to USD 95 million. In 2009, the United States provided USD 267 million to the agency.
The cash-strapped UNRWA provides assistance to about 4.7 million Palestinian refugees, many of whom have settled in camps in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
PTI
