UAE's Red Crescent Authority donates US$2.1million to UNRWA for East Jerusalem Health Centre

Abu Dhabi, July 15, 2013 (WAM) - The Red Crescent Authority of the UAE (RCA) has signed an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) whereby it will donate US$2.1 million to support the reconstruction of UNRWA's Shu'fat Health Centre in East Jerusalem, Palestine. "The contribution of US$ 2.1 million will enable UNRWA to rebuild and refurnish the health centre on the eastern edge of Jerusalem, which serves the thirty thousand Palestinian refugees who live in Shu'fat Refugee Camp," the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi, said. The agreement was signed on behalf of the RCA, by Ahmed Humaid Al Mazrouie, Chairman of the Board of RCA. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA said, "I am very pleased by this agreement. The construction of the West Bank Barrier has greatly impacted the lives of these residents, particularly in access to health services. With the support of the RCA, at least now they can look forward to receiving treatment in a modern health centre." He noted that the agreement is another example of the important contributions made by to UNRWA by Arab donors, saying, "This shows how UNRWA and Arab donors can work together to help the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem." Grandi said the UAE Red Crescent Authority has been a regular supporter of the Agency's work on behalf of Palestinian refugees, having contributed frequently to providing food aid and undertaking shelter reconstruction projects in Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. – Emirates News Agency, WAM