Sheikh Abdullah affirms UAE's support for UNRWA

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has discussed ways to support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) with Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General.

During a phone call on Tuesday evening, the pair discussed the need to ensure the urgent and safe delivery of humanitarian relief, and medical aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, along with preventing further loss of life.

Sheikh Abdullah reaffirmed the UAE's unwavering support for UNRWA and the importance of the role it plays in delivering humanitarian aid and supporting Palestinian refugees.

He also stressed that UNRWA's role is vital in light of the current circumstances facing the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip, where two million people are in dire need of the assistance provided by UNRWA and other UN agencies.

Sheikh Abdullah commended UNRWA's prompt action to investigate the allegations made against some of its staff, stressing the importance of ensuring that this matter does not have negative repercussions on UNRWA's humanitarian efforts and the vital and urgent services it provides to Palestinian refugees, especially since the agency has taken it upon itself to expedite the investigation.

The UAE top diplomat also called upon donor countries that have suspended their funding to UNRWA to urgently reconsider this decision and continue to provide support to the agency to enable it to carry out its humanitarian tasks.