CAPITALS July 13. 2024 (Saba) -118 United Nations Member States have joined the Joint Commitments Initiative launched by Jordan, Kuwait and Slovenia, which aims to support the Palestine Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in facing political and financial challenges, and to emphasize its vital role in providing services to Palestine refugees and as a pillar of regional stability.
This came at a press conference at the end of the UNRWA pledging conference held annually by the United Nations at its headquarters in New York, last night.
"We are here to formally announce the UNRWA Short Commitments Initiative, initiated by Slovenia, Jordan and Kuwait, and initially launched by a group of 16 countries to support the Agency," said Mahmoud Hammoud, Permanent Representative of the Jordan to the UN.
He added that 118 countries had joined the initiative, as of Friday evening (Jerusalem time). He noted that he had received calls from representatives of other countries who had expressed interest in joining the initiative.
He called on other Member States to join the initiative, which he said was open to all Member States for signature at any time.
Hammoud stressed the critical importance of supporting UNRWA during this difficult time, "because the Agency is a lifeline for Palestine refugees in all its areas of operation and no other agency or body associated with the United Nations or humanitarian agencies is able to perform the tasks performed by UNRWA, especially with regard to education, health and livelihood in areas of operation, including the occupied Palestinian territory."
E.M
resource : Saba