(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Pakistan has made an enhanced contribution to the cash-strapped United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN agency entrusted to assist the Palestinian refugees, that drew 'heart-felt appreciation from its chief, Pierre Krahenbuhl.
Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, handed over the enhanced contribution in New York to Peter Mulrean, director of the UNRWA, which supports more than 5mn registered Palestinian refugees.
The UNRWA provides education, healthcare, and social services to those it supports.
The UNRWA ran into deep financial trouble earlier this year when the United States cut back its funding of the agency by around $300mn.
That constituted the largest-ever reduction in funding in the UNRWA's history, leading to a severe financial crisis which threatened many of its critical assistance programmes, leading to cutbacks to its cash-for-work activities and limiting the provision of assistance to only the most important.
Countries belonging to the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) and other states decided to step forward to plug the deficit faced by the UNRWA.
Pakistan joined other nations to help the UN agency.
Speaking to the UNRWA director at the Pakistan mission to the UN, Lodhi said that Islamabad's contribution was increased on the instructions of the government of Pakistan, and in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
'The people of Pakistan have always stood with their Palestinian brothers and sisters, she added.
Lodhi stressed that this assistance will help the UNRWA continue its relief efforts on the ground and keep the schools and clinics open that it runs in Palestinian refugee camps.
UNRWA Commissioner Krahenbuhl said in a video message: 'Pakistan's support in solidarity with the Palestinian people and with Palestine refugees has been historic and extremely important, not only through financial contributions but also in the debates at the UN General Assembly in New York.
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