However. UNRWA has a substantial deficit accumulated from previous years and also faces inflation in many areas where it operates. which Is even more acute than elsewhereabout 20 percent. Furthermore. there is increased demand for its services due to the natural growth in the numbers of refugee children as well as the longstanding. unfulfilled demand from those refugees who are entitled to UNRWAs services. but cannot obtain them because the agency lacks the necessary funds. To regain the financial solvency. it must have to continue its humanitarian work. and to play the role it may have in a peace settlement in the Middle East. UNRWA will require additional special support. Arab governments which are hosts to the Palestinian refugees provide substantial amounts in goods and services to the refugees directly. These governments. not UNRWA. are responsible for roads. utilities. and civil administration in the areas where the refugees live. and they share with UNRWA the provision of health services. education. and shelter to the refugees. In 1973. the estimated value of these services provided by host governments was more than $20 million. The negotiations on a peace settlement in the MiddleEast have given an additional importance to UNRWAs work. UNRWAs health. education. and food services have always been essential to a minimally acceptable standard of living for the refugees it serves in offering them more hope for the future. especially for their children. UNRWA has thus been central to maintaining such stability as the refugee areas have had. including those refugee areas in Israelheld territory where some 40 percent of these refugees live. Any reduction now in our support for UNRWA in relation to its need. forcing the agency to. cut back its services. would endanger not only this stability. but also the settlement negotiations. In particular. it would be seen as totally inconsistent with our repeatedly expressed position that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be established without taking into account the wishes and aspirations of the Palestinians.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees