RAMALLAH, Sept 15 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine yesterday called on donor countries, to cover the deficit in the budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), to continue providing its services.
Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, said in a statement that, he met with UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini in Ramallah, and discussed the importance of helping the UN agency to overcome the deficit in its budget.
“International donations will help the UNRWA to carry on providing educational, health, and other services to the Palestinian refugees,” al-Maliki told Lazzarini during the meeting.
“It is important that the UNRWA continue providing services to Palestinian refugees in all areas, and the services provided to them, until a just and lasting solution is found, based on the UN resolutions,” he added.
Al-Maliki discussed with Lazzarini issues of common concern, including agreements concluded by UNRWA with international bodies, in addition to Lazzarini’s efforts to develop the agency in a manner that preserves its mandate and services.
UNRWA officials said earlier that, the agency faces financial challenges because it suffers from a financial deficit that reached 100 million U.S. dollars.
Established in 1949, UNRWA was mandated to provide assistance and protection to approximately 5.6 million Palestine refugees in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
