UNRWA Chief Says 'Miracle' Palestinian Society Still Standing
Friday, September 27 2002
Courtesy of The Palestine Chronicle; http://www.palestinechronicle.com
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PMC) - The budget deficit of a United Nations agency looking after Palestinian refugees fell by 33 percent to $16.7 million, the lowest in years, the head of the agency said.The UNRWA commissioner general for Palestinian refugees Peter Hansen said Wednesday it was a "major miracle" that Palestinian society had not collapsed as the Intifadah - uprising for independence - enters its third year.
Hansen told reporters the UN General Assembly has approved a budget of $301.8 million for the UNRWA, but that donors have so far provided only $276.9 million.
Peter Hansen also told a news conference in Amman that the UN Relief and Works Agency was facing a 16.7 million US dollar budget deficit, and accused Israel's "security regime" in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip of hampering its efforts.
"Over the past two years there has been a steady decline in the conditions of the Palestinians," Hansen said on the heels of a two-day meeting of donor countries in the Jordanian capital.
Friday, September 27 2002
Courtesy of The Palestine Chronicle; http://www.palestinechronicle.com
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PMC) - The budget deficit of a United Nations agency looking after Palestinian refugees fell by 33 percent to $16.7 million, the lowest in years, the head of the agency said.The UNRWA commissioner general for Palestinian refugees Peter Hansen said Wednesday it was a "major miracle" that Palestinian society had not collapsed as the Intifadah - uprising for independence - enters its third year.
Hansen told reporters the UN General Assembly has approved a budget of $301.8 million for the UNRWA, but that donors have so far provided only $276.9 million.
Peter Hansen also told a news conference in Amman that the UN Relief and Works Agency was facing a 16.7 million US dollar budget deficit, and accused Israel's "security regime" in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip of hampering its efforts.
"Over the past two years there has been a steady decline in the conditions of the Palestinians," Hansen said on the heels of a two-day meeting of donor countries in the Jordanian capital.