GAZA, May 29, 2012 (WAFA) - The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent (UAERC) contributed $817,000 in support of food for the poorest refugees in Gaza, said an UNRWA press release on Tuesday.

It said the donation will support some of the most vulnerable Palestine refugee families requiring assistance under the Agency’s social safety-net programme (SSNP). This programme targets refugee families most in need in UNRWA’s five fields of operation through providing food assistance, including baskets of essential commodities such as flour, rice, oil, sugar and milk.

After what will soon be five years of tight access restrictions and blockade, much of the population of the Gaza Strip remains unemployed, poor, and dependent on aid. 68% of the refugee population is receiving food from UNRWA, and 62% of the total Gaza population is dependent on international agencies for at least some of its food, while the unemployment rate stands at 29%, it said.

According to the release, Filippo Grandi, UNRWA Commissioner-General said: “Five years of access restrictions have brought many Gazan families to their knees. People are very dependent on our food programmes.”

He added: “Securing funding for these programmes is increasingly difficult, and so we are especially grateful to the UAERC for coming forward now with this timely donation.”

The UAERC is a regular contributor to food for Palestine refugees in Gaza. Over the last five years, the UAERC contributed over five million dollars for food aid. The UAERC is also a committed supporter of shelter reconstruction for Palestine refugees through UNRWA, having supported major projects in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria.

T.R./F.R.