Qatar participates in meeting of main partners supporting UNRWA

Qatar participated in the ministerial meeting of main partners to support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.Qatar was represented at the meeting by Minister of State for International Co-operation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater. During the meeting, HE AlKhater expressed Qatar's appreciation for the continuous efforts made by Jordan and Sweden each year to highlight the financial situation of UNRWA. She emphasised that UNRWA remains a top priority for Qatar and highly praised the critical importance of the basic services the agency provides to millions of vulnerable refugees in the occupied Palestinian territories and neighbouring countries.She stressed that UNRWA's role is extremely important for regional stability as long as the refugee issue remains unresolved and the Palestinian cause awaits a just, permanent, and comprehensive solution.She also underlined the need to address the recurring liquidity crises faced by the agency and the chronic funding shortfall.HE AlKhater said that ensuring sufficient and predictable funding is essential, otherwise the quality and continuity of UNRWA's essential services could be compromised. She noted that Qatar remains committed to providing core funding to the agency as the first Arab country to sign a multi-year agreement with UNRWA in 2018. She also noted that, in this year's donation pledging conference, the State of Qatar pledged $16 mn for the agency's core resources for the years 2023 and 2024.HE AlKhater expressed her deep appreciation for the dedication and hard work of UNRWA staff, including Commissioner General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini. She commended their relentless efforts in challenging and difficult conditions, in addition to their professionalism in ensuring that UNRWA remains a trusted and capable agency despite limited resources. She affirmed that Qatar will continue to be a strong supporter of UNRWA in collaboration with other partners.