The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Karen Abu Zayd on Sunday called on the Arab countries to increase their financial aid for Palestinian refugees.

Abu Zayd made the appeal following her meeting with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, according to a report by Egypt's official news agency MENA.

The Arab countries, according to Abu Zayd, pledged several years ago 7.8 percent of the agency's annual budget for aiding Palestinian refugees, but failed to cash it out as their aid still lingers at 3-4 percent of the agency's current budget of 400 million U.S. dollars.

The UN official stressed the urgent need for the fulfillment of the Arab nations' commitment to the UNRWA this year as an additional aid of 100 million dollars are needed.

She explained that half of the sum would be used for providing job opportunities for the Palestinians while the rest channel led into financial aid programs and rehabilitation schemes.

AbuZayd, who arrived here on Saturday, met Moussa earlier in the day to brief him on the UN agency's mission in the Gaza Strip and will meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Monday.

The UNRWA undertakes the construction work in the Gaza Strip ranging from repairs and reconstruction of refugee shelters to construction of schools, community centers, water and sanitation works as well as medical facilities.

However, due to a severe shortage of basic raw-materials, the UN agency announced on July 9 the suspension of its construction projects in Gaza.

John Ging, UNRWA director in Gaza, warned that the ongoing closure of crossings, which was adopted in the wake of Hamas violent takeover of Gaza on June 14, would duplicate the Palestinians' sufferings and lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.