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Jordan calls for emergency Arab FM meeting to support UNRWA

August 31, 2018 at 10:33 am

Palestinian children play outside tents set up by UNRWA, 15 January 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Apaimages]

Jordan has called for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss the financial crisis facing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a joint conference with the UN Commissioner-General, Pierre Krahenbuhl, in Amman, that the Palestinian refugee issue is a final status matter linked to the right of return and compensation in accordance with UN Resolution 194.

He stressed on the need for the international community to abide by its duties.

Safadi said the lack of funding means a lack of basic services for refugees, adding that no country has the right to determine who is a Palestinian refugee, noting that international law recognises Palestinian refugees and their rights under the UN umbrella.

For his part, Krahenbuhl said that UNRWA began this year with a deficit of more than $400 million noting that the agency provides services to more than five million Palestinian refugees in the region.

He pointed out that the agency continues to be a major player in the region until the Palestinian issue is resolved.

Report: US to end all funding for UNRWA