Jordan contacts dozens of world countries to secure funds for UNRWA — officials

AMMAN — Jordan will only accept the suspension of UNRWA's humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian refugees once the Palestinians have their cause resolved, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said on Wednesday.

Judeh reiterated Jordan's refusal to any attempts to compromise the Palestinian cause either through suspending UNRWA's services or through any other kind of "political maneuvering", adding that it is a deep Jordanian conviction that the relief agency can suspend its operations only if the right of return and compensation to Palestinian refugees are ensured.  

"UNRWA will continue its operations as long as the Palestinian question is unresolved," Judeh said.

The minister's remarks came during a meeting with Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh and members of the parliamentary Palestine Committee to discuss the financial crisis of URWA. Thirty-five MPs in addition to Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh, and Mahmoud Aqrabawi, director of the Department of Palestinian Affairs attended the meeting. 

Also on Wednesday, Judeh held a meeting with  UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl, during which he reasserted that Jordan totally rejects any cuts or postponement of the agency’s services, stressing Jordan's continued support for UNRWA, upon the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah. 

Judeh highlighted the government's efforts and its contacts with donor countries, pointing out that it has sent letters to 49 foreign ministers and has telephoned some of them, besides UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and that there have been some positive responses.     

Aqrabawi told the lawmakers that Jordan's negotiations with donor countries have succeeded in securing the necessary funds to cover UNRWA's educational programme for the next two months, adding that efforts are under way to secure the remaining $60 million.  

He also said that UNRWA offices across the country are open now for the registration of students in the scholastic year 2015/2016.