Pakistan has protested at the United Nations over Israeli legislation against a Palestinian aid agency
Pakistan also strongly condemned the raids on and seizure of UNRWA offices, rejecting any attempt to undermine the agency’s mandate and operational autonomy.
Addressing a pledging conference held in support of UNRWA at the United Nations Headquarters today, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, emphasized ensuring full respect for the privileges and immunities granted to UNRWA under international law.
Paying tribute to the services of UNRWA over the past seven decades, he said that the agency is an indispensable support for millions of Palestinian refugees, providing them with essential services such as education, health, aid, protection, and shelter under extremely difficult conditions.
He said, “UNRWA is not merely a humanitarian aid agency but a practical manifestation of the international community’s collective responsibility towards a just and lasting political solution for Palestinian refugees.”
Ambassador Usman Jadoon stressed that humanitarian workers performing life-saving aid services should never be subjected to violence. He also called for accountability for the deaths of 392 UNRWA personnel martyred since the start of the current conflict.
He stated that UNRWA’s mandate cannot be separated from the issue of the final political settlement for Palestinian refugees. According to him, the solution is not to dismantle the agency but to end the Israeli occupation, enable the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and implement a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine.
Ambassador Usman Jadoon said that UNRWA is currently facing a budget deficit of approximately 220 million US dollars, severely threatening the provision of basic services to millions of needy Palestinian refugees.
He praised the professional capacity, dedication, and tireless services of UNRWA’s staff, stating that permanent, sustainable, and increased financial support for the agency is not merely a necessity but a responsibility of the international community.
At the conclusion of his address, Ambassador Usman Jadoon announced that Pakistan will increase its financial support for UNRWA this year and urged all member states to not only maintain their current financial support but also increase it further.