Nmeeting with Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) in Doha, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani warned of the “catastrophic repercussions” of the suspension of the financing of that agency by several donor countries, following accusations of involvement of some of its employees in the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas against Israel, on October 7th.
In retaliation, Israel launched an intense military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
“The State of Qatar will continue to support the agency whose responsibilities have doubled in the face of the current tragic situation facing the innocent civilian inhabitants of the Gaza Strip,” said Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, also head of the emirate’s diplomacy, quoted in a statement released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Qatari Prime Minister also declared that it is necessary to make “a separation between the fact that UNRWA is one of the institutions of the United Nations, which enjoys values and traditions, and the allegations against some of its employees, who are under investigation” .
In the same informative note, the emirate’s diplomacy said that Lazzarini welcomed Qatar’s “generous and continuous support for the UNRWA program”, which, the statement added, “contributes to responding to the urgent humanitarian needs of our Palestinian brothers”.
Qatar, one of the world’s largest gas exporters, has been a key mediator in efforts to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave controlled by Hamas since 2007. The emirate is known for its support for Palestinians and welcomes the Hamas political office in Doha.
Lazzarini’s visit to Doha follows his recent warnings that UNRWA will be forced to suspend operations in Gaza and across the Middle East if the agency’s funding is not resumed, after 16 donor countries suspended their contributions. financial.
In addition to Gaza, the organization provides assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Spain announced today that it will maintain support for UNRWA and release an urgent budget of 3.5 million euros, to maintain activities in the short term.
Last week, Portugal announced an additional contribution of one million euros.
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Source: https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/2495990/responsabilidades-duplicaram-qatar-vai-continuar-a-apoiar-a-unrwa
