UNRWA Commissioner-General meets new Dutch government on his first official visit to the Netherlands

19 May 2022
East Jerusalem

The Commissioner-General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, made his first official visit to the Hague between 17-18 May to meet with its newly elected government and discuss the long-standing cooperation between UNRWA and the Netherlands. Mr. Lazzarini held meetings with Minister of Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher, senior government officials, members of Parliament and civil society representatives.

Mr. Lazzarini thanked the Government of the Netherlands, "We thank the Netherlands for its consistent support to Palestine refugees through UNRWA. By doing so, the Netherlands shows it commitment to the human development of one of the most destitute community across the region supporting poverty alleviation, reductions in inequality and access to quality health and educational services Mr. Lazzarini also addressed the new challenges Palestine refugees are facing. The current rise in food prices in the region adds a layer of hardship to an already dire situation. UNRWA needs sufficient funding to cover their needs and offer young Palestine refugees the prospect of a more a better future."

During his meeting with Ms. Schreinemacher, Mr. Lazzarini provided an overview of the Agency's work in its five fields of operation and its role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. The Commissioner-General also met with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Netherlands, H.E. Rawan Sulaiman, and with Arab Ambassadors within the Hague. In addition, he met the Dutch Relief Alliance, the Rights Forum and students from Leiden University.

The Netherlands is a longstanding partner to UNRWA. In 2021, the Dutch government supported the Agency with a total of EUR 23 million, including EUR 4 million to the UNRWA occupied Palestinian territory Emergency Appeal.

- Ends -

Background Information:

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency's Programme B­udget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations, namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. Thousands of Palestine refugees who lost both their homes and livelihood because of the 1948 conflict have remained displaced and in need of significant support for over seventy years. UNRWA helps them achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.