JERUSALEM, Saturday, December 29, 2018 (WAFA) – Saudi Arabia transferred to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) $50 million it has pledged during a visit to the kingdom on 28 November for UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl where he signed an agreement with Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSC), in support of UNRWA’s core health, education and social services in 2018.

An UNRWA press release said on Friday that this very generous and crucial contribution confirms the unprecedented mobilization of support by donors and partners worldwide this year to help UNRWA to overcome its worst financial crisis ever.

Krahenbuhl expressed his deep recognition and gratitude for the disbursement of this remarkable financial support, said UNRWA press release, which comes in fulfilment of the pledge made by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud during the Arab summit in April.

“We are extremely grateful for the generous support consistently provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in recent years. The exemplary 2018 donation of $450 million to UNRWA’s core services is a new milestone in our important cooperation,” said Krahenbuhl.

Saudi Arabia, along with its humanitarian and development bodies, is a valued partner to UNRWA. This year alone, the Kingdom has contributed over $160 million towards the Agency including projects across its five fields of operations making it one of the largest donors to UNRWA’s work for Palestine refugees.

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre was established on 13 May 2015, under the high patronage and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, aiming to provide humanitarian aid and relief to those in need outside of the Kingdom’s borders. The Center has provided humanitarian and development aid to more than 37 countries through international, regional and local partners in place.

M.K.