Arab League praises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE over contributions to UNRWA

The Arab League praised the response of Arab nations topped by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and UAE to the calls of providing financial assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

AL chief Nabil el Araby, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl have made calls to save the relief agency from its financial crunch, which resulted in announcing suspension of its educational program in the coming school year.

In his statement on Thursday, assistant secretary general of the Arab League in charge of the Palestinian issue Muhammad Sobeih said these states gave financial tranches and helped UNEWA resume its educational activities.

Such contributions were appreciated by UNRWA, the Palestinian authority and the refugees, Sobeih said.

Sobeih said the financial crisis emerged due to the Israeli wars in Gaza, and the deteriorating situation in Syria, which host 13 refugee camps.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions, and financial support has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, deepening poverty and conflict.