Safadi, UNRWA chief strategise to increase agency’s financial support

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi and Commissioner-General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini on Thursday discussed strategies to secure support for the agency to continue providing vital services to over 5.7 million refugees, per its UN mandate.

Safadi highlighted the Kingdom's continued efforts to coordinate with international and regional partners to ensure the agency has the necessary financial support to continue operating until the Palestine refugee issue is resolved in accordance with international references and resolutions based on the two-state solution, which is the “only way” to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. 

Safadi also reiterated the importance of UNRWA’s efforts in establishing regional security and stability, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi and Lazzarini stressed the need to diversify UNRWA's funding sources, under the principle of sharing burdens, and to invite donors to commit to multi-year pledges.

They also went over preparations for the upcoming Jordanian-Swedish ministerial meeting scheduled to be held on the sidelines during the High-level Week of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting is intended to raise awareness on the agency’s role and mobilise the necessary support.

For his part, Lazzarini expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's important role and efforts to mobilise international support for the agency to ensure that it has the necessary support to overcome financial deficits.