Kuwait announced on Tuesday that it has granted $900,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), responding to a plea made by the agency over the Syrian crisis, reported the Palestinian news agency (WAFA). This contribution represents the first pledge towards this appeal this year and Kuwait’s contribution will go towards life-saving assistance provided to the Palestine refugees remaining inside Syria, said the agency. UNRWA said the conflict in Syria continues to disrupt the lives of civilians, resulting in death and injuries, internal displacement, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and persistent humanitarian needs. “Palestinians are among those worst affected by the conflict. Of the estimated 438,000 Palestine refugees remaining inside Syria, over 95 percent (418,000) are in critical need of sustained humanitarian assistance to meet their most basic food and shelter needs,” it added. “Almost 254,000 are internally displaced, and an estimated 56,600 are trapped in hard-to-reach or inaccessible locations,” it explained. UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl said in a press release: “We are deeply grateful to Kuwait for this additional contribution in support of the 2018 Syria Regional Crisis Appeal at a time when a dramatic financial crisis threatens our ability to provide these life-saving services to Palestine refugees in and from Syria.” In 2018, UNRWA requires $409 million for its humanitarian response to the Syria regional crisis in order to provide aid, including cash assistance, food, water, shelter and medical assistance.