14 APRIL 2021
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today¡¯s noon briefing by St¨¦phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
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Questions and Answers
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Question:? On Palestine and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), so, last week ¡ª and you talked about it ¡ª the US donated $150?million, I think, if I¡¯m not mistaken.? How disappointed are you, actually, given the fact this number is not even¡ it¡¯s almost half of the¡ what they were giving before they stopped and given the fact, also, that the US aid to Israel is $3.6?billion, and it doesn¡¯t go actually to the poor people in Israel.? It¡¯s mostly military aid.? So, can you¡
Spokesman:? The history of bilateral aid between the US and Israel is¡ has been clear for a long time.? Our focus is on what we can get for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA.? We¡¯re grateful for this¡ I think, this return of the United States to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA and a very vocal return.
Obviously, as with any donors, we¡¯re happy when we get money.? We¡¯d be happier if we got more money.? I mean, that¡¯s a fact.? But we very much hope that the US decision will also move other donors who had left when the US left to return and return with generosity.
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For information media. Not an official record.
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Global Communications, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA)
Country: Israel, United States of America
Subject: Assistance, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 14/04/2021
URL source: /press/en/2021/db210414.doc.htm