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Since 2015 the Arab State of Qatar has provided more than US$100-million assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
By EDD K. USMAN
(SDN) — COMPASSION continues to flow from the kind heart of the Arab State of Qatar under His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
One example is the oil-rich sheikdom’s constant support to the Palestine diaspora scattered in many parts of the world.
Since 2015 the Arab and Muslim nation has provided more than US$100 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). For the year 2020 alone, it has provided additional $11.2 million announced in 2019.
This was learned from an email to SDN — Science & Digital News sent by the media section of the Embassy of Qatar in Manila.
Qatar last week represented by His Excellency Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi participated in the Extraordinary Virtual Pledging Conference on June 23 to announce pledges to the UNRWA’s works benefiting Palestine refugees.
Al-Muraikhi reminded the UNRWA and the virtual participants of his country’s continuing support to the United Nations agency within the framework of enabling it to carry out its mandate.
The Qatari official emphasized “the State of Qatar has been and remains at the forefront of the countries supporting it (UNRWA) as it has provided through the Qatar Fund for Development (QFD) more than US$100 million since 2015.”
Al-Muraikhi further explained Qatar’s support to the UNRWA in 2020 the Arab nation announced in 2019 amounts to $11.2 million based on the accord signed in December 2019 on the sidelines of the Doha Forum between the State of Qatar and UNRWA.
The 2020 support to the UN agency includes a separate $1.5 million from the Education Above All Foundation in the State of Qatar in support of the Palestinian government represented by the Ministry of Education to ensure the right to education for Palestinian children.
Al-Muraikhi assured that it “will remain at the forefront of the effective countries to enhance UNRWA’s ability to continue to perform its mandate and carry out ots activities effectively in line with its principles and firm commitment in supporting the brotherly Palestinian people.”
As if telling other Arab and Muslim countries to do their share in support of the Palestinian people, Al-Muraikhi noted “the State of Qatar is today the first in the Arab world in providing support to UNRWA’s core resources for 2019-2020.”
Meanwhile, he acknowledged the increasing financial crisis facing the UNRWA for which the conference was conducted as the global pandemic Covid-19 has added more burden to the agency’s activities.
At the same time, Al-Muraikhi reaffirmed his country’s sustained support “for the efforts of the new commissioner-general of UNRWA and thanked His Excellency the Secretary-General of United Nations Antonio Guterres, for his efforts to mobilize the Agency.”
The Qatari foreign minister also expressed his thanks to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Sweden for their initiative in organizing the conference.
Jordan and Sweden co-chaired the conference titled: “A Strong UNRWA in a Challenging World — Mobilizing Collective Action.”
The event is in support of Palestine refugees.
“UNRWA aims at ensuring that the Agency bridges its financial gap for 2020 and receives sufficient, predictable and sustainable resources to continue delivering on its mandate in the coming years,” the UN agency said on its website. (SDN)