On November 14, 109 countries voted for a US-initiated United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.
The passage of this resolution is the first such measure ever introduced by the United States, and notably was supported by Israel, reported Washington File. It addresses the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which works to ameliorate the plight of Palestinian refugees in the fields of education, health, and social services.
The vote shows that the UNRWA donors, led by the United States, can find a common basis for de-politicizing the mandate of this organization that provides vital humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. The United States has always been the single largest donor to UNRWA, providing over $100 million for its programs last year alone. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
