The Saudi Committee for the Relief of the Palestinian People committed US$15.2 million on 14 September to a UNESCO programme for the benefit of Palestinian universities and students in need.

The programme is to be implemented immediately out of UNESCO's office in the Palestinian city of Ramallah. The programme will provide direct financial support to all Palestinian universities and to Palestinian students in need enrolled in those universities and in leading post- secondary colleges. The Saudi grant will also be used to assist the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education in creating a student aid system.

Some 25% of young Palestinians were enrolled in the universities of the West Bank and Gaza in 2003, compared to a 15% average for the Arab region.The number of students enrolled in the 11 universities, four university colleges and 24 community and technical colleges in the Palestinian Territories more than tripled between 1995 and 2003 to 136 000.

For details: www.unesco.org/education