Qatar reiterates support to UNRWA

QATAR has reiterated its continued support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to enable it to fulfil its mandate.

Qatar also stressed the importance of the support of the international community and donors to the UN agency.

This came in Qatar’s statement before the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee on Agenda Item UNRWA delivered by Shamma Saqr al Muraikhi, member of the delegation of Qatar taking part in the work of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

Muraikhi stated that Qatar’s contributions in the past eight years through Qatar Fund For Development and the Reconstruction of Gaza Committee have exceeded one billion dollars, in addition to its contributions to the civil society institutions.

She noted that the Qatari support has had a tangible impact, highlighted by various UN reports, in addressing urgent and long-term needs in electrical power supply, infrastructure development, housing repair and construction, as well as financing job opportunities that contribute to the recovery of the economy and the achievement of prosperity.

As part of its keenness to demonstrate its responsibility and to share the financial burden, and in compliance with the General Assembly’s call in resolutions 73/92, 73/93 and 73/94, Qatar has increased its contribution to the Agency’s core resources with a multi-year pledge of

million annually, in addition to the contribution it had announced last year to provide a 50 million support to the Agency’s activities and programs, which was a key factor in ensuring that schools are opened without delay, Muraikhi said.

She also highlighted Qatar’s accession to the Advisory Committee of UNRWA under resolution 73/92, noting that Qatar has sought to join the Committee because of its keenness to contribute to providing various types of support to the Palestinian people and the UNRWA, which is one of the largest, oldest and most important United Nations agencies.

Muraikhi said the UNRWA continues to play a vital role in alleviating the plight of the Palestinian refugees and providing them with protection and support in the face of the challenges they face.

She called for sustainable funding for the Agency to enable it to provide services without interruption in a predictable manner and to fulfil its mandate under relevant General Assembly resolutions.

The Qatari official thanked the UNRWA Officer-In-Charge Christian Saunders for his briefing, commending the great efforts made by all the staff of the UN Agency to ensure the provision of vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees under very difficult circumstances.

Qatar has increased its contribution to the Agency’s core resources with a multi-year pledge of $8 million annually