*EPF412 05/22/2003
Text: U.S. Offers Additional $67 Million to Aid Palestinian Refugees
(Total U.S. contributions to UNRWA reach $97 million in 2003 fiscal year) (300)

Following is a media note from the State Department May 22 concerning the latest U.S. contribution to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
May 22, 2003

MEDIA NOTE

U.S. Contributes Additional $67 Million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The United States announced an additional $67 million contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), bringing to $95 million the total U.S. contribution this fiscal year to help Palestinian refugees. This new contribution was announced today at the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Donors Conference in Amman, Jordan.

Of this $67 million contribution, $52 million will specifically support the agency's core programs for education, health and social services benefiting approximately four million Palestinian refugees registered with the organization in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The West Bank and Gaza will receive $15 million to support emergency programming for refugees.

Earlier this year, the United States contributed $28 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's General Fund.

The United States remains committed to supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which provides critical services to Palestinian refugees. The agency is a force for stability in the Middle East and is an irreplaceable partner in addressing emergency humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza. The United States is the single largest donor.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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