Ansamed

(ANSAmed) - JERUSALEM, APRIL 3 - The Italian government has authorized four million euros in aid to UNRWA, the UN agency for assistance to Palestinian refugees. The announcement came in a joint statement issued by the Italian consulate in Jerusalem and the Italian Development Cooperation. UNRWA helps Palestinian refugees in ''Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, by funding basic services such as schools, healthcare assistance and a security network for about five million Palestinian refugees.'' The statement noted that Italy had recently donated a million euros to the Al-Shouka school in the Gaza Strip to improve the facilities and to purchase new study and development materials for disabled children. Another 2.5 million euros have been set aside to support the the healthcare system in Lebanon and half a million euros have been earmarked for food to Syria. Over the past few years, Italian aid to the UN agency has risen steadily. Since 2000, Italy has contributed over 105 million dollars (over 76 million euros) to the UNRWA budget.

(ANSAmed).