Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, welcomed the outcome of the UN General Assembly vote of 5 December extending the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for three years.
Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson, quoted Mr. Aboul Gheit as saying that UNRWA plays an indispensable role in sustaining the livelihoods and employment of millions of Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation. He added that its role has become even more critical in light of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip caused by the brutal two-year Israeli war, which has resulted in the complete destruction of the Strip’s infrastructure and basic services.
The spokesperson stressed that UNRWA, through its resources, capacities, and the expertise of its staff, remains the principal entity in the humanitarian relief and recovery system in Gaza, particularly in the health and education sectors, which have suffered unimaginable devastation.
Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed hope that this important vote would mark the beginning of a renewed role for UNRWA and strengthen its ability to confront malicious Israeli campaigns aimed at undermining its mandate in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, as a prelude to abolishing the Palestinian refugee issue and denying refugees a key pillar of their steadfastness on their land.
Roshdy added that the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States appealed to all donor countries to act urgently to bridge the funding gap facing the Agency, amounting to approximately $200 million, to enable it to continue its indispensable humanitarian work across its five areas of operation.
