Germany makes unprecedented contribution to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal


13 September 2011
Jerusalem

For the first time Germany has contributed to the school feeding programme of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA). The contribution of US$ 2.8 million was announced at a ceremony today in Gaza.
                                         
The head of Germany’s Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority, Goetz Lingenthal, said: “I am very pleased that Germany contributes to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA’s school feeding programme as healthy food encourages academic achievement. Evidence shows that adequate nutrition helps students to focus on their schoolwork and to attend school every day. I strongly believe that good education is one of the most important and sustainable investments into a good Palestinian future.”

Accepting the donation, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA’s Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Germany. “These funds are a bridge between the most marginalised in Gaza and the outside world. Our school feeding programmes provide a much-needed source of nutrition and wellbeing to the next generation in over 200 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA schools across the Gaza Strip.”

Germany’s contributions to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA in 2011 will total some US$ 26 million, including US$ 4 million for school reconstruction. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA assists over a million Palestine refugees across the Gaza Strip with education, health, relief, social services and other emergency programmes. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA in the Middle East assists as many as 5 million registered refugees.

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