The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has donated a contribution of US$ 12.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

“This extraordinary financial contribution will help the Agency continue to provide critical humanitarian services and operations for the remainder of 2019 in the areas of primary healthcare, education and social services across its five fields of operation”, said UNRWA in a statement on Thursday.

UNRWA said this is the second contribution by the UAE to the Agency this year and is one of four disbursements totaling US $ 50 million.

“This generous donation could not have come at a more important time for the Agency and for Palestine refugees,” said UNRWA Acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders. “UNRWA is doing all it can to overcome the worst financial crisis in its 70 year history.”

“I am hopeful that this strong demonstration of trust in UNRWA will encourage others to support the crucial work of the Agency,” said UNRWA’s Acting Commissioner-General.

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. As a result, the UNRWA program budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.4 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.