PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi and UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl. (Photo courtesy of Ashrawi‘s office) 

RAMALLAH, September 13, 2018 (WAFA) – Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi applauded on Thursday the commitment of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to Palestine refugees while lashing out at the United States for using the humanitarian organization at tool to blackmail the Palestinians.

Ashrawi’s statement came during her meeting at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah with UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl and his Chief of Staff Hakam Shahwan.

Ashrawi thanked UNRWA for its dedicated and professional efforts in providing the 5.3 million Palestinian refugees in Occupied Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria with essential services, assistance and opportunities for work, growth and development while safeguarding their legal and political rights. She also lauded their overall contribution to the stability of the region as a whole.

The discussion focused on the enormous challenges and financial shortfalls facing UNRWA in carrying out its mandate to assist the Palestinian refugees as a result of the US administration‘s politicization of humanitarian aid by defunding UNRWA.

Both parties expressed their appreciation to the more than 25 donors, including China, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, for their additional financial contributions to help bridge the funding gap caused by the US decision to terminate all funding of UNRWA: "We are confident that the additional sponsorship of the organization will herald a new partnership, whereby UNRWA will emerge more vitalized and secure in its mandate and its support system."

In that view, Ashrawi said, "It is unfortunate that the US administration decided to use UNRWA as a political tool in its efforts to pressure and blackmail the Palestinian people and leadership, thereby causing harm to the most vulnerable segment of the Palestinian population.”

She said that in its overzealous drive to serve Israeli interests and priorities, the US is also targeting international organizations and the global rule of law in order to unilaterally reshape them. “These attempts will only fail and will isolate the US government in the international arena and undermine its global influence and standing,” said the PLO official.

“We, as the PLO, are committed to working with and supporting UNRWA to ensure that it continues to carry out its mandate according to UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) and that it is guaranteed stability and continuity until the refugee question is resolved on the basis of justice and international law and conventions, including UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (III)."

Ashrawi also appealed to the entire international community to provide UNRWA and the Palestinian people with a safety net and financial stability.

In addition, both parties affirmed continued PLO-UNRWA coordination and cooperation and enhanced consultations on issues of mutual interest.

M.K.