Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, received Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the headquarters of the General Secretariat on 5 September. During this meeting, Mr. Lazzarini provided a detailed overview of the conditions of Palestinian refugees and the challenges facing UNRWA, particularly in the context of its financial situation.
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, noted that during the meeting, Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed his unwavering support for UNRWA's mission and its efforts to assist Palestinian refugees across its five operational areas. This support is especially pertinent with the commencement of the new school year and the critical importance of ensuring access to education for every Palestinian refugee child.
Mr. Aboul Gheit emphasised the significance of donor countries fulfilling their commitments to contribute to UNRWA's budget. This emphasis comes in light of the Commissioner-General's report highlighting the ongoing funding gap in UNRWA's budget, which stands at approximately $170 million, the spokesperson added.
The Commissioner-General of UNRWA is scheduled to deliver a brief speech before the Ministerial-level League Council meeting, set to take place at the headquarters of the General Secretariat, Roshdy stated.
