Published : 27-06-2019
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) received the support of the representatives of states and institutions at its annual international Pledging Conference held on 25 June in New York.
Representatives of states and institutions unanimously commended the Agency’s role in preserving the rights and dignity of Palestine refugees and praised its staff members for their commitment in support of the human development of 5.4 million Palestine refugees in the Near East.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl stated, “Today in New York, we witnessed another remarkable mobilization and great generosity in support of UNRWA. I am deeply grateful for the trust of United Nations (UN) member states, for the pledges of more than US$ 110 million, and for the commitment to the dignity and rights of Palestine refugees.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinoza, Commissioner-General Krähenbühl and numerous member states spoke about the centrality of Agency’s role to the stability and development of the Middle East. Speakers referred to the invaluable contribution of UNRWA to the human development of the Palestine refugee population through education, health care, and economic empowerment.
The Conference was an opportunity for UNRWA to showcase the impact of its protection and assistance mandate on the lives of millions of Palestine refugees living in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General stressed that the Agency’s current financial situation will be particularly challenging for emergency operations in Gaza and Syria and for UNRWA schools across the region. Food for one million refugees in the Gaza Strip, as well as quality education to Palestine refugee children, but also essential cash assistance to over 400,000 people in Syria, will be severely affected if the Agency's financial requirements for 2019 are not covered.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) received the support of the representatives of states and institutions at its annual international Pledging Conference held on 25 June in New York.
Representatives of states and institutions unanimously commended the Agency’s role in preserving the rights and dignity of Palestine refugees and praised its staff members for their commitment in support of the human development of 5.4 million Palestine refugees in the Near East.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl stated, “Today in New York, we witnessed another remarkable mobilization and great generosity in support of UNRWA. I am deeply grateful for the trust of United Nations (UN) member states, for the pledges of more than US$ 110 million, and for the commitment to the dignity and rights of Palestine refugees.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinoza, Commissioner-General Krähenbühl and numerous member states spoke about the centrality of Agency’s role to the stability and development of the Middle East. Speakers referred to the invaluable contribution of UNRWA to the human development of the Palestine refugee population through education, health care, and economic empowerment.
The Conference was an opportunity for UNRWA to showcase the impact of its protection and assistance mandate on the lives of millions of Palestine refugees living in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General stressed that the Agency’s current financial situation will be particularly challenging for emergency operations in Gaza and Syria and for UNRWA schools across the region. Food for one million refugees in the Gaza Strip, as well as quality education to Palestine refugee children, but also essential cash assistance to over 400,000 people in Syria, will be severely affected if the Agency's financial requirements for 2019 are not covered.
