New York City played host to a high-level ministerial meeting convened by Jordan and Sweden, in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, aimed at rallying support for Palestinian refugees and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The gathering took place on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Member states reiterated their unwavering political support for UNRWA and explored avenues to break through the challenges that threaten its ability to deliver essential services to Palestinian refugees in the region.
In an official press release, the international agency stated that the pledges made by several member states would contribute to bolstering UNRWA‘s primary budget, allocated for vital services encompassing education, healthcare, and emergency responses to multifaceted crises in the region.
During the meeting, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his profound pride in UNRWA’s pivotal work, hailing it as a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees.
However, he voiced grave concern about its future, stating, “Needs are on the rise, but funding remains stagnant or even diminishing. Preserving UNRWA serves our collective interests and is our collective responsibility.”
With the commitments made today, UNRWA will only be able to sustain its critical essential services for Palestinian refugees through the months of September and October.
UNRWA has pledged to continue its efforts to secure the necessary funding to sustain its services until year-end.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized the urgent need for a fair political solution for Palestinian refugees, whose plight represents one of the world’s longest-standing refugee crises.
He remarked, “While we welcome the commitments made at this meeting, I urge our partners to prioritize the protection of the rights of Palestinian refugees and address the issue of UNRWA’s sustainability on their political agendas.”
UNRWA called on its partners to urgently provide adequate funds this week and shift the focus from the agency’s financial situation to ensuring the sustainability of the agency and the right of Palestinian refugees to a dignified life.
