AMMAN: Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s minister of foreign affairs, and Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, met on Thursday to discuss the funding crisis the agency is facing.
They reviewed targeted strategies to ensure the necessary regional and international financial support for the agency and plug the gap in its finances so that it can continue to provide vital assistance to more than 5.7 million Palestinian refugees in the five areas in which it operates, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Safadi said Jordan will continue to collaborate and coordinate with regional and international partners to mobilize efforts to ensure the global community provides the agency with the funding it needs to continue its humanitarian work until the Palestinian issue is resolved based on a two-state solution, which he described as the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace.
He joined Lazzarini in emphasizing the importance of diversifying the agency’s sources of finance within a framework of burden-sharing, and they urged donors to make multi-year pledges and follow through on them.
The officials also discussed preparations for a ministerial meeting that will be hosted by Jordan and Sweden on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September. It aims to raise awareness of agency’s role and mobilize support for its work.
Lazzarini praised Jordan for its efforts to enhance the international support for the agency and its role in efforts to bridging the current funding gap.
Jordan hosts more than 2 million registered Palestinian refugees.
