UNRWA Donor Update

Abandoning UNRWA now, or weakening the commitment for its effective continued work, will send a wrong signal to the refugees at this point in time."
Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Ayman al-Majali in opening address on behalf of the Jordanian Prime Minister at an informal meeting of UNRWA donors and host governments in April 1999.

In late April 1999, donor countries and host governments met to deal with the continued deficit problem faced by UNRWA. Despite austerity and cost reduction measures, UNRWA is projecting an estimated core deficit of $8 million in 1999. A cash shortfall in the third quarter of 1999 could also disrupt operations. While some donor countries allocated additional funding for UNRWA at the meeting, donor pledges still fall short of the required funding increase (5% per annum) to maintain basic services to registered refugees. UNRWA's original budget for 1999 has been scaled back from $322 million to $255 million due to consistent shortfalls in donor funding.

The United States increased its total commitment to the regular budget (covers all recurrent costs including education, health, relief and social services programmes) by US$4 million, bringing its total for 1999 to $77 million. Based on the 5% annual increase since 1993, however, US funding should have reached nearly $90 at the end of 1999.

Canada's contribution, meanwhile was 40% higher than in 1998. The increase comes after a program review by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which funds UNRWA. Increased Canadian funding for UNRWA now comes out of several envelopes at CIDA, rather than just the International Humanitarian Assistance envelope. According to the 5% increase, Canada's funding should have reached US$11.7 million by the end of 1999.

Other donors at the April meeting allocated modest increases in funding. Of the top 13 contributors to the regular or general budget, the UK confirmed that 1999 contributions would remain at an increased level of 7 million Sterling Pounds with the possibility of increased contributions and technical assistance. Japan announced a $6.7 million contribution for UNRWA's food aid programme in 1999 with potential additional contributions. Saudi Arabia also noted that it was considering new contributions (Peace Implementation Programme for improving infrastructure and enhancing living conditions) to UNRWA projects in the West Bank and Gaza.

Book exhibition in UNRWA school, 'Aida Camp, April 1999

In April ,BADIL attended a book fair in 'Aida Camp to purchase children's books which were distributed to camps in the south and north of the West Bank. Efforts to empower Palestinian refugee communities through the campaign for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights include small material projects.

UNRWA Hits the INTERNET!

Website: www.un.org/unrwa: UNRWA is now online! The site includes basic information about UNRWA and Palestinian refugees along with more detailed information and data on UNRWA programmes and finances. A unique feature of the website is the profiles for each refugee camp. The site also contains a list of UNRWA publications, some of which can be downloaded from the website.