The United States on Thursday announced that it is making an initial contribution of $40 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The contribution will come in support of UNRWA's regular budget and emergency programs in the West Bank and Gaza. The $40 million contribution will work to provide critical health, education, and humanitarian services to 4.7 million Palestinian refugees across the region. Of this contribution, $30 million will support UNRWA's core services in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza, the State Department said in a statement. An additional $10 million will support UNRWA's emergency appeal for the West Bank and Gaza, including emergency food assistance, and job creation programs. The United States is UNRWA's largest bilateral donor. In 2009, the United States provided over $267 million to UNRWA, including $116.2 million to its General Fund, $119.5 million to its West Bank/Gaza emergency programs, $30 million to emergency programs in Lebanon, and $2.2 million to assist other Palestinians in the region, the State Department said.
