São Paulo – Palestine will receive 66 million euros worth of donations and loans from European countries and US$ 72.2 million from the World Bank, according to announcements made this week.
Two days ago, the World Bank announced a US$ 72.2 million donation to the Arab country, supplied by the Palestinian Fund for the Reform and Development Plan, which combines funds from various donors.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the money is supplied by the governments of Kuwait, Australia and United Kingdom, and will help meet the budgetary needs of the Palestinian National Authority, providing support to education, healthcare and other social services.
Last Wednesday (4th), Italy’s deputy minister of Foreign Relations, Lapo Pistelli, signed a 60 million euro agreement with the Palestinian Finance minister Shukri Bishara. Based on the agreement, Italy will donate 30 million euros to Palestine over the next three months and another 30 million in the form of low-interest loans.
According to Wafa, Pistelli said the funds will be spent on actions for healthcare, gender equality promotion, and a project to back new small businesses in Palestine. The Italian politician paid a three-day visit to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in Palestine.
This Thursday (5th), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa) has announced that it will receive a 6 million euro aid from Belgium. According to the Unrwa website, its general commissioner Filipo Grandi has said Belgium is one of the donor countries which has been offering the most aid to Palestinian refugees. According to the website, since 2007 Belgium has donated over US$ 70 million to the Unrwa.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
