The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has called on the international community to intensify its efforts to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), enabling it to continue fulfilling its humanitarian duties towards Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and neighboring countries.
In a statement, the ministry emphasized that there is no alternative to UNRWA, which was established following the failure of the two-state solution nearly 75 years ago. Its role will inevitably come to an end with the implementation of this solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that guarantees all refugees their rights and their return to their homeland.
The ministry also reminds that UNRWA, especially in Lebanon, possesses accumulated knowledge and necessary expertise over the years that make it the most capable entity of assisting Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon, given the difficult humanitarian conditions they face in their areas.
Furthermore, the ministry appreciates the positions of donor countries that have decided to resume or even increase their assistance to UNRWA. It calls on non-contributing countries to join the donor countries, as the continuation of this aid gives the Palestinian people hope for survival and restores confidence in the ability of the United Nations to assist and protect Palestinian refugees who are in dire need of basic necessities like water, food, and medicine.
The ministry also reminds that investing in support for UNRWA is an investment in building a better future for the Palestinian people, and in distancing them from the specter of extremism and despair, which serves the common interest of both host and donor countries.
