The United Arab Emirates affirmed that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) represents the essential lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, calling on the international community to provide protection for the agency and its operations. The UAE emphasized the two-state solution to address the plight of Palestinian refugees.
This statement came as over 118 countries announced their support for UNRWA as a cornerstone for regional stability. The UAE's permanent mission to the United Nations published a message on its official website on the "X" platform yesterday, stating: "The UAE joined a joint meeting with the press, along with fellow member states who signed the joint commitments regarding UNRWA, with Philippe Lazzarini, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Commissioner-General of UNRWA."
The mission added, "The international community must provide protection for UNRWA and its operations, with no alternatives until a two-state solution addresses the plight of Palestinian refugees." It continued, "UNRWA is the basic lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, providing vital services throughout the occupied Palestinian territory and to those forcibly displaced to neighboring countries. Amid the widespread devastation and tragedy resulting from the Israeli war on Gaza, UNRWA remains central to the humanitarian response across the sector."
Yesterday, 118 countries signed a "joint commitment" to support and enhance financial and political backing for UNRWA. This joint commitment was led by Slovenia, Jordan, and Kuwait, and all 15 members of the UN Security Council also signed the commitment during the agency's pledge conference in New York.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, in his speech at the conference, stated, "The Palestinians are not lesser beings; they deserve the same rights, respect, and consideration. Their lives are no less valuable or deserving of protection."
He added, "We appreciate the work carried out by the UN system under the leadership of the Secretary-General in the Middle East, and in this regard, we particularly emphasize the vital role of the agency according to its General Assembly mandate, in providing life-saving assistance to generations of Palestinian refugees through education, health, relief, basic social services, and emergency aid in the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria."
For his part, Jordan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Mahmoud Hamoud, confirmed the paramount importance of supporting UNRWA during this time, stating, "The agency is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees across all areas where it operates, and there is no other UN-affiliated agency or humanitarian organization capable of performing the missions undertaken by UNRWA, especially regarding education, health, and providing livelihoods in the operational areas, including the occupied Palestinian territory."
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon emphasized the critical importance of UNRWA, stating that it saves Palestinian lives daily.
In this context, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed appreciation for the strong support and solidarity with the agency and its staff, noting that the joint commitment initiative also included all members of the Security Council.
He stated, "It is an important day for the agency in the midst of the fierce politically motivated attack it is facing," emphasizing the importance of member states reaffirming their support and confidence in the agency. Lazzarini confirmed that this commitment is recognition for the agency's staff who work under difficult and unprecedented conditions, noting, "It is a testament that UNRWA is, and will remain, the backbone for humanitarian response."
