Egypt: UNRWA's role indispensable in supporting Palestinian refugees

CAIRO – 26 September 2024: In a ministerial meeting to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration Dr. Badr Abdelatty said that Egypt sees that UNRWA's role is indispensable in supporting Palestinian refugees.

This meeting was convened by Sweden and Jordan on the sidelines of the high-level meeting of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79).

In his speech, the Minister expressed gratitude to all those involved in humanitarian relief efforts, particularly UNRWA and its Commissioner-General. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the UNRWA personnel who lost their lives due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.

Abdelatty highlighted that the agency's need for comprehensive humanitarian support has become increasingly urgent, particularly in the Gaza Strip. He reiterated Egypt's support for UNRWA’s vital role in the future reconstruction of Gaza.

The Foreign Minister condemned the recent campaign to tarnish the agency's reputation, asserting that it is based on unfounded claims.

He noted that the international community recognizes this campaign as an attempt to undermine the refugee issue, which remains one of the key final status concerns.

Abdelatty stressed that suspending financial contributions to UNRWA is unacceptable and amounts to collective punishment against the Palestinians. He described this position as unjust, undermining the credibility of the multilateral system and the enforcement of international law without discrimination.

He called on international donors who have halted their contributions to reconsider their stance.