Lazzarini Urges UN Member States to Safeguard Palestinian Refugees and UNRWA.

Amman: UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called on member states of the United Nations General Assembly to act in defense of Palestinian refugees and UNRWA, which is going through its "darkest hour." "The future of Palestine refugees is a shared responsibility. To do so is to defend the United Nations, which lies at the heart of our multilateral system. It is to defend our collective future, which is today in the greatest jeopardy," Lazzarini said in a statement delivered to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. According to Jordan News Agency, Lazzarini emphasized the unique mandate of UNRWA among UN agencies, highlighting its role in directly providing public-like services. These services include education for more than half a million children, primary healthcare, and social support. He stressed the importance of maintaining UNRWA's current mandate, which has been tasked by the General Assembly to assist Palestine refugees. Lazzarini presented three urgent requests to member states . He urged them to prevent the implementation of legislation against UNRWA, emphasizing that changes to the agency's mandate should be decided by the General Assembly, not individual Member States. He also called for member states to ensure any political transition plan clearly outlines UNRWA's role, so the agency can conclude its mandate within a political solution framework and transfer services to a Palestinian administration. Lastly, he requested that funding to UNRWA be maintained, cautioning against withholding or diverting funds based on assumptions about the agency's operational capabilities.