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Liechtenstein Contributes CHF 100,000 to Core UNRWA Programmes

The Principality of Liechtenstein has contributed CHF 100,000 (approximately US$ 100,100) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of the Agency’s core programmes and services across its five fields of operations, encompassing education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp improvement and infrastructure, and microfinance.

“At a time when Palestine refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza are facing some of the most severe protection crises in decades, the reliable support of our donors and partners to our core programmes and services remains crucial,” said Francoise Vanni, the Director of External Relations and Communications at UNRWA. “Within this context, we are deeply grateful for this latest contribution from Liechtenstein – it will help UNRWA to continue to provide for the critical human development and humanitarian needs of the more than 5 million Palestine refugees throughout the region, despite the many challenges they face today.”

Liechtenstein has been a regular donor to the Agency’s core programmes and services since 2004, having contributed CHF 100,000 annually since 2009.

Background Information

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness
Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org

Sami Mshasha
Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org