At a “critical conference” supporting the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Secretary-General António Guterres outlined on Tuesday, the “essential role” it continues to play in generations of lives.

Thanking the Governments of Jordan and Sweden for organizing the pledging conference for the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the UN chief pointed out the agency’s many accomplishments.

In addition to providing more than half a million children with high quality education, investing in human development and offering “lifelines of hope and opportunity”, UNRWA has also enabled many of its beneficiaries to “make extraordinary contributions to their communities and to the world at large”, he said.

“An investment in UNRWA is an investment in peace and hope”, spelled out the top UN official. More

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will received an additional $135.8 million after signing an agreement with the United States on Saturday establishing shared goals in support of humanitarian assistance, development, and refugee protection.

“The signing of the US-UNRWA Framework [for Cooperation] and additional support demonstrates we once again have an ongoing partner in the United States that understands the need to provide critical assistance to some of the region’s most vulnerable refugees,” stated the UN agency’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini.

Due to a larger number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty, UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services. The agency is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs.

This latest agreement reaffirms both UNRWA and the US’s commitment to the UN’s humanitarian principles, including the principle of neutrality. More