ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed its dedication to the Palestinian cause by renewing its commitment to financial and political support of Palestinian refugees at a pledging conference in New York, Pakistani state media reported.
At the beginning of the year, United Nations (UN) agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, appealed for $1.6 billion for its programs, operations and emergency response across Syria, Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and Jordan.
That includes nearly $850 million for its core budget for running schools and health clinics among other operations. According to UNRWA, donors this week announced $812.3 million in pledges, but just $107.2 million were new contributions, significantly less than the $300 million needed to keep helping millions of people. The countries pledging new funds were not announced.
Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Aamir Khan addressed the pledging event in New York and said Islamabad was committed to welfare of the Palestinian people.
“This commitment is a natural corollary of Pakistan’s strong affiliation with the Palestinian cause,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
Pakistan calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Ambassador Khan also called for stepping up efforts to support UNRWA in overcoming the huge funding gap.
