Palestinian refugees hosting countries meet in Amman

The annual unofficial meeting of the main donor and host countries of Palestinian refugees will meet in Amman on Wednesday to discuss the financial situation of UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency), in general and the funding shortage UNRWA has suffered from in the period extending until the end of the current year, as the organization is in drastic need of US $20 million.

UNRWA sources stressed the urgent need for this sum to meet its minimum obligations to the refugees in the education, health and social areas. The sources added that tough measures were adopted by UNRWA five years ago to withstand the financial discrepancy through reducing operational and administrative spending in several areas.

On the second day of the meeting, another meeting will be held for the consultation committee of UNRWA, including representatives from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Britain, France, Turkey, Japan and the USA as well as the PLO, which will take part in the meeting as an observer.

The committee will review the draft report of UNRWA, which will be submitted by its commissioner general Peter Hanson on the level of social, health and educational services provided by UNRWA in the camps and areas of their existence in the hosting countries.