UNRWA holds talks with Arab League, Egypt

UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and, Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon attend the Arab League foreign ministers annual meeting in Cairo on Tuesday. (AP)

• Agency for Palestinian refugees faces funding gap of $100m
• Lazzarini also met with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry

CAIRO: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit received Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, in Cairo.
The meeting focused on the problems facing the agency and the financial difficulties hampering its work, with a funding gap of about $100 million.
Aboul Gheit stressed the importance of the agency’s work, and they discussed ways to bridge the funding gap and ensure that the services it provides to Palestinian refugees in the areas of health, education and employment are not affected.
Lazzarini also met with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. They exchanged views and proposals on ways to enhance international support for UNRWA.
Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s continued support for the agency, and the basic and necessary services it provides to Palestinian refugees.
Lazzarini stressed his keenness to coordinate with Egypt regarding the agency’s activities and ways to enhance international support so that it can perform the tasks entrusted to it.