Cairo: The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, welcomed the results of the UN General Assembly vote to extend the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for three years.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Aboul Gheit stated in a press release that UNRWA plays an indispensable role in providing for the livelihoods and employment of millions of Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operation. He noted that the agency's role has become even more urgent due to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip following the two-year Israeli conflict, which has led to significant destruction there.
The Secretary-General emphasized that UNRWA remains the most important entity in the humanitarian relief and recovery system in Gaza, particularly in the health and education sectors. These sectors have been severely affected by the ongoing situation.
Aboul Gheit expressed hope that the UN vote would mark the beginning of a renewed role for UNRWA, supporting it against campaigns aimed at diminishing its role in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. He highlighted concerns over efforts to undermine the Palestinian refugee issue.
The Secretary-General called on donor countries to urgently address the funding gap facing UNRWA, which amounts to approximately $200 million, to ensure the continuation of its essential humanitarian work across its areas of operation.
