AMMAN, Jordan, May 18 (UPI) -- The annual meeting for donor nations financing the U.N. Refugee and Works Agency opened in Amman Wednesday amid calls for badly needed donations.
UNRWA Acting President Karen Abu Zeid told the meeting, allso attended by countries hosting Palestinian refugees, the agency has prepared a plan for Gaza after the planned Israeli withdrawal for creating new jobs and providing vocational training.
Abu Zeid said UNRWA's budget for 2004 is estimated at $407 million with a deficit of $27 million, and asked for additional donations to enable the agency to meet its obligations for Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA provides services to an estimated 4 million Palestinian refugees residing in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza.
Donor nations include the United States, the European Union states, Japan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Arab League nations.
