UAE gives Dh55m to UN to plug deficit

Funds aimed at keeping United Nations Relief and Works Agency schools open.

The UAE has contributed US$15 million (Dh55m) in support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East education programme.

The donation was needed because a $101m shortfall had put the start of the school year at risk for the 685 UNRWA schools that serve 500,000 pupils in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

“Education is a fundamental right for children everywhere in the world, and it should never have come to the point where the UNRWA school year risked being delayed because of a funding shortfall for the core UNRWA budget,” said Pierre Krahenbuhl, UNRWA’s commissioner-general.

“The government of the UAE, through the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, Micad, responded to our call for support with a pledge of US$15 million, without which the start of our school year would have been at risk.”

He expressed his deep appreciation to the UAE Government on behalf of the 500,000 boys and girls who will be starting the school year on time.

“Your generosity and solidarity has made this possible,” he said.

The UAE has long been an important and consistent donor to UNRWA. Its annual contribution amounts to $1.8m to the agency’s core activities and to the many projects funded by UAE foundations. The UAE is also an engaged member of the UNRWA advisory commission, of which it became a member last year.