On the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Managing Director of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), signed a landmark two-year agreement in support of the agency’s core services, including education, health-care, relief and social services.
This agreement follows the unprecedented $50 M contribution made by the State of Qatar in 2018 in response to the most severe funding crisis ever faced by UNRWA, a press release from the organization revealed.
Qatar’s generosity, combined with the funding of UNRWA’s other partners, enabled the agency to overcome a shortfall of $446 M, this year, and protect the rights of Palestine refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, said the release.
Al-Kuwari highlighted the importance of this vital partnership, stating that, “this agreement with UNRWA will ensure the continued protection and assistance of our Palestine refugee brothers and sisters.”
“They deserve to live decent lives and enjoy the totality of our shared human rights,” he added, according to WAFA.
“This agreement demonstrates best practices by the State of Qatar, a government dedicated to progress and human development. The State of Qatar will lend its support to any initiative that benefits Palestine refugees.”
The Commissioner-General warmly welcomed this strong expression of Qatar’s commitment to Palestine refugees. He said that, “in 2018, Qatar made a major difference in enabling UNRWA to open the schools on time for 530’000 boys and girls studying in our 711 schools. This will be fondly remembered.”
“The new agreement signed today with the Qatar Fund for Development is an important step in the crucial effort to stabilize UNRWA’s financial situation by ensuring increased predictability of funding. I am deeply grateful for Qatar’s trust and partnership,” the Commissioner-General concluded.
(photo: Days of Palestine)
