Bethlehem - Ma'an - For his contributions of over 17.4 million US dollars to the UN Relief and Works Agency, Saudi Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz As-Saud received the first ever Distinguished Donor Award, the agency said Saturday.

Only weeks after UNRWA announced an impending "zero budget" for the new year, and amid Palestinian criticism of falling Arab support for the organization charged with caring for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the Near East, the Saudi prince, also the country's second deputy prime minister and minister of the interior received recognition for his personal support.

At a ceremony in Riyadh, Commissioner-General of UNRWA Karen AbuZayd presented the award to the prince. In 2009, his Committee for the Relief of the Palestinian People and Campaign of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques for Gaza, donated more than 10 million US dollars to projects in Gaza, with the rest coming as contributions since 2005.

AbuZayd said the donation "demonstrates clearly the deep concern felt by His Royal Highness for Palestine refugees, reflecting the concern of the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the welfare of Palestinians generally, and for their cause, and amply warrants the bestowal for the first time of UNRWA's Distinguished Donor Award."

The award is aimed at recognizing non-government donors.