Palestinians make their way along the Al-Rashid road towards Gaza City from Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on October 10, 2025. PHOTO:AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates confirmed on Friday the indispensable role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in ensuring the rights and welfare of Palestinian refugees.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said: “For decades, UNRWA has carried out a unique mandate entrusted to it by the international community, providing protection, education, health care, social services and relief to millions of Palestinian refugees in its areas of operations in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (1949).
The adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution to renew UNRWA’s mandate for another three years reflects international confidence in the agency’s vital role and the continuity of its operations.”
The ministers condemned the storming of the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, as this attack represented a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises, constituting an unacceptable escalation, and violated the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice dated the 25th committed not to hinder UNRWA’s operations and, on the contrary, to facilitate them.
In light of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the Ministers underlined the essential role played by UNRWA in delivering humanitarian assistance through its network of distribution centers and ensuring that food, relief items and necessities reach those in need fairly and efficiently in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2803.
UNRWA’s schools and health facilities remain a lifeline for refugee communities in Gaza, continuing to provide education and essential primary health care under extremely challenging conditions, contributing to the implementation of President Trump’s plan on the ground and enabling the Palestinian people to remain in their land and rebuild their homeland, they added.
The ministers emphasized that UNRWA’s role was irreplaceable.
“No other entity possesses the infrastructure, expertise and field presence required to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or to ensure continuity of services to the extent necessary,” they added.
They said: “Any weakening of the agency’s capacity would have serious humanitarian, social and political consequences throughout the region.”
Accordingly, the ministers called on the international community to ensure sustainable and adequate funding for UNRWA and to provide the agency with the necessary political and operational space to continue its vital work “in all five areas of operation”.
“Supporting UNRWA is a cornerstone in maintaining stability, preserving human dignity and upholding the rights of Palestinian refugees until a just and durable solution to their situation is achieved in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including UN General Assembly Resolution 194,” they added.
