UNRWA must continue serving refugee communities — FM

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday stressed that UNRWA must continue providing full services to refugees in the educational, health and relief fields.

Meeting UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl, the minister emphasised that empowering UNRWA to help it continue its services to refugees is an international responsibility, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He added that the refugee issue is a  major item on the agenda of final-status talks between Palestine and Israel, adding that such as issue has to be solved mainly in accordance with UN Resolution 194 and the Arab Peace Initiative, in a way that guarantees refugees’ right to return and compensation.

The two sides also urged the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to provide sufficient funds that the agency needs to help it sustain its services.

The meeting came as US officials have hinted that Washington might halt its assistance to UNRWA in response to a Palestinian firm stand rejecting a decision by US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  The agency has said in a recent statement that no move had been taken in that direction, while US administration sources were quoted as denying any such action. 

The US’ share in funding UNRWA constitutes over a third of the assistance it receives from donors worldwide.  

Also on Thursday, Safadi telephoned his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman and acquainted him with the efforts exerted to face the repercussions of the US decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.