Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 26, 2008
United States Contributes Nearly $28 Million to Relief Effort for Palestinian Refugees in LebanonThe United States has contributed an additional $17.81 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for reconstruction and emergency relief at the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in Lebanon. Fighting during the summer of 2007 destroyed the camp and displaced over 30,000 people.
The money will be used to rebuild homes, schools, and health clinics that serve Palestinian refugees. The U.S. contribution also provides life-saving medicine, school uniforms, and heating and hot water during the winter for the displaced population.
With the additional funds, the U.S. contribution for this year now stands at $27.81 million to UNRWA for emergency relief and reconstruction in northern Lebanon. We encourage other donors to support strongly UNRWA’s relief and reconstruction appeals for the Nahr al-Bared camp.
The United States is UNRWA's largest bilateral donor. Since October 1, 2007, the United States has provided a total of $184.68 million to UNRWA. The contribution supports UNRWA’s core programs in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, including education for nearly 500,000 Palestinian children (half of whom are girls) at more than 650 schools. The United States’ funding to UNRWA also supported emergency operations in the West Bank and Gaza, including food assistance to over 900,000 vulnerable Palestinian refugees. In the summer of 2008, over 250,000 Palestinian refugee children took part in UNRWA’s “Summer Games,” which were partially funded by the United States.
2008/795
Released on September 26, 2008
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