Funding

The United States has been and continues to be the largest single-nation donor to UNRWA since it’s establishment in 1949.

UNRWA operations are financed almost entirely by voluntary contributions from governments and the European Commission, which account for 95 per cent of all income. Most contributions are received in cash, although a small proportion is received as food commodities for distribution to vulnerable refugees.

UNRWA’s General Assembly-approved cash budget for 2005 is US$ 339.3 million. This funds UNRWA’s ongoing Education, Health and Relief and Social Services activities. An additional US$47.1 million has been budgeted for projects and US$21.7 million for in-kind donations

In keeping with previous years, The Agency will likely have to initiate efficiency savings to bring its regular budget closer to its likely income from donor nations. In 2004 UNRWA’s regular cash and in-kind budget was approved at a level of US$351 million. However actual expenditure was around US$346.2 million while income was US$338.1 million.

The Agency’s largest donors in 2004 were the United States, the European Commission and some of the member states of the European Union.

From the start of the strife in October 2000 UNRWA has been appealing to the donor community to fund its emergency operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. From October 2000 until December 2004, a total of $433.3 million had been pledged to the Agency, less than two-thirds of the amount requested. In December 2004 UNRWA launched an appeal for US$186 million to cover the cost of its emergency activities in 2005.

NGO Support

American Friends of UNRWA Association, Inc.
www.friendsunrwa.org

Comité Español de la UNRWA
www.unrwace.org