The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the West Bank announced last week a donation of US$ 32 million provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Fund for Development, SFD, to address several infrastructure needs in UNRWA schools and health centres in the West Bank.

The announcement ceremony was held in Aida camp in Bethlehem in the presence of the Director of UNRWA Operations in the West Bank, Scott Anderson, representatives of the PLO Department of Refugee Affairs, DORA, and members of the Camp Service Committee for Aida Camp.

This contribution will fund the reconstruction, furnishing and equipping of three health centres and two schools in the West Bank, namely the health centres in Dura town and Aida and Far’a refugee camps and the boys schools in Jenin and Tulkarm camps. This funding will also enable UNRWA to improve the learning environment for its students by upgrading basic infrastructure, as well as science and computer labs.

This donation is part of a bigger grant of US$ 67 million from SFD for projects to be implemented in Gaza, the West Bank and Jordan. The agreement was signed by UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl and SFD Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Yousef al-Bassam, on 27 November 2016.