Comissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl speaks during a press conference in Gaza City, May 23, 2019. Krahenbuhl said on Thursday that the agency will continue to provide services to Palestinian refugees despite financial difficulties. (Xinhua/Stringer)
GAZA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Comissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Pierre Krahenbuhl said on Thursday that the agency will continue to provide services to Palestinian refugees despite financial difficulties.
"UNRWA will not end its role and stop its services," Krahenbuhl said during a press conference at the headquarters of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip.
"We regret the difficult humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where about 1.3 million refugees are suffering," Krahenbuhl said, adding that the crisis here is not only about food and drink, but also about "dignity and a stable life."
He called for the international community to pay attention to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and to make every effort to mobilize financial support for the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA had brought 500 staff members back to their works despite funding problems, he said, adding that "the agency decided to increase the budget of the health section to meet the high needs in this area."
The official said that the fiscal deficit of UNRWA had reached 200 million U.S dollars and 42 countries helped the agency to overcome its financial crisis last year.
"We will do our best and make every effort to provide food assistance to refugees in the Gaza Strip and we need 60 million dollars to buy food," he said.
He concluded by saying that the agency is continuing its work until a fair solution for Palestinian refugees is created.
On Tuesday, UNRWA warned that its financial crisis threatens investment in primary health infrastructure and health care services offered to all Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA reported that despite unprecedented financial challenges in 2018, the agency had provided services to a total of 5.4 million refugees from Palestine and continued to provide uninterrupted medical services.
