{"id":236455,"date":"2020-06-23T11:48:02","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T15:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=236455"},"modified":"2020-06-23T17:28:42","modified_gmt":"2020-06-23T21:28:42","slug":"remarks-by-unrwa-commissioner-general-at-ministerial-conference","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/remarks-by-unrwa-commissioner-general-at-ministerial-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Remarks by UNRWA Commissioner-General at Ministerial Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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23 June 2020<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"\u201cA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cA Strong UNRWA in a Challenging World \u2013 Mobilizing Collective Action\u201d<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u200b<\/strong><\/span>REMARKS BY THE COMMISSIONER-GENERAL<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At the outset, I wish to express my deep appreciation to the co-chairs of this Conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Safadi and Minister for International Development cooperation Peter Erikson for taking the initiative to convene this Conference.<\/p>\n

Mr. Secretary-General, I am grateful for your participation today, and for your leadership in marshalling support for the Agency and the Palestine refugees we assist.<\/p>\n

To the governments that host Palestine refugees: I am grateful for your continued generosity.<\/p>\n

I thank all participants for joining us<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crises in the Middle East remain unresolved and new ones always seem to be unfolding.<\/p>\n

We are entering a period of renewed uncertainty with the threat of annexation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with the worst economic downfall in Lebanon\u2019s modern history and with the seemingly endless conflict in Syria.<\/p>\n

Among the new threats is the COVID-19 pandemic. After the health outbreak, we are now confronted with a pandemic of abject poverty. Anger, despair and hopelessness are growing within the Palestine refugee community.\u00a0 They are turning to us for more assistance and some are even trying their luck through deadly migration roads.<\/p>\n

In an unpredictable and unstable environment, we need, more than ever, a predictable and stable UNRWA.<\/p>\n

UNRWA is the lead provider of government like services for a population of 5.6 million Palestine refugees.\u00a0 Over the years, the Agency has provided a vital contribution to the human development agenda and to the stability of the Middle East.<\/p>\n