Arab News

RIYADH: The UN Secretary-General on Friday welcomed a $40 million contribution announced by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to support a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees emergency appeal in Gaza.

Antonio Guterres said that “at a time when the people of Gaza face the threat of looming famine, such a donation is crucial to ensuring the ability of UNRWA, which is the backbone of the humanitarian response in the occupied Palestinian territory, to continue operating and providing services to the people of Gaza in their time of need,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

UNRWA confirmed that the donation will provide food for more than 250,000 people and tents for 20,000 families in Gaza.

A UN spokesman said that the donation was an important step toward ensuring the well-being of the people of Gaza, SPA said.

Guterres also called on Israel to ensure full and unrestricted access to humanitarian supplies to all parts of Gaza.