The United Arab Emirates has confirmed its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and is looking forward to seeing more innovative international means of financing the Agency.
This came during a special meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York by the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Nations to the United Nations, Saud Hamad Al Shamsi. Towards the Agency stems from its permanent and historic commitment to the Palestinian people, thus contributing to the maintenance of regional security and stability.
He pointed to the additional contribution made by the UAE in 2018, which is worth more than $ 50 million. The UAE is the sixth largest donor to the Agency at the end of last year, noting that this contribution has helped to continue the educational programs of hundreds of UNRWA schools and support health and food programs agency.
He pointed to the UAE contribution of $ 2 million to finance fuel for power stations to support hospitals in the Gaza Strip. He revealed that the State will provide about $ 364 million in humanitarian, development and food assistance to the Palestinian people through its lead institutions during 2017 and 2018.
The UAE welcomed the decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at its 46 th Session held in Abu Dhabi to establish a Development Fund to support the Agency, and looked forward to the results achieved by the Fund.
He announced the intention of the UAE to continue its support to the Agency through various means, taking over the position of Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee of «UNRWA», which is discussing a number of important issues related to it, starting in July. Al Shamsi concluded his statement before the Committee, reiterating the position of the UAE, which is certain of its position that a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question must be reached, ending the suffering of its fraternal people and establishing its independent Palestinian state on the June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.