14 APRIL 2021

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today*s noon briefing by St谷phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

/…

Questions and Answers

/…

Question:? On Palestine and UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), so, last week 〞 and you talked about it 〞 the US donated $150?million, I think, if I*m not mistaken.? How disappointed are you, actually, given the fact this number is not even# it*s almost half of the# what they were giving before they stopped and given the fact, also, that the US aid to Israel is $3.6?billion, and it doesn*t go actually to the poor people in Israel.? It*s mostly military aid.? So, can you#

Spokesman:? The history of bilateral aid between the US and Israel is# has been clear for a long time.? Our focus is on what we can get for UNRWA.? We*re grateful for this# I think, this return of the United States to UNRWA and a very vocal return.

Obviously, as with any donors, we*re happy when we get money.? We*d be happier if we got more money.? I mean, that*s a fact.? But we very much hope that the US decision will also move other donors who had left when the US left to return and return with generosity.

/…

For information media. Not an official record.