AMMAN — All programs offered by a UN agency caring
for Palestinian refugees continue, despite financial difficulties caused by
global factors, said Adnan Abu Hasna, a media advisor at the
UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees.
اضافة اعلان
He said that the effect of “global issues” on UNRWA,
most prominent of which is Russia’s war on Ukraine “affected the donations that
UNRWA receives”.
“However, all UNRWA programs are still running”, he
asserted.
His statement was made during a conference held last
Monday on the sidelines of the UNRWA Advisory Committee meetings, which take
place twice a year, usually in June and November, to discuss issues of concern
to the UN agency.
Abu Hasna told
Jordan News later that Arab
support for UNRWA dropped by 90 percent in the last decade. He said a recent
donation of $27 million came from
Saudi Arabia last month, and has raised
expectations that more funds could be in the pipeline.
As for the US, which is usually one of the largest
donors to UNRWA, he said that the assistant secretary of state is in Amman to
attend the advisory committee meeting, where she heard the challenges facing
UNRWA.
“The US was the largest single donor to the agency
this year”, pledging $340 million.
He dodged a clear comment on the sit-ins staged by
UNRWA employees in the
Gaza Strip, who are protesting their work conditions,
but said the agency is obliged to meet their needs.
He said that UNRWA and the international community
“are doing their best to keep UNRWA institutions on their feet, and enable them
to continue helping the refugee community”.
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