Arab League chief and UNRWA chief today discussed the financial problems impeding the work of the UN agency at the headquarters of the League in Cairo.

Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, focused in their meeting on the financial problems gripping the UN agency and obstructing its work given the global crises that are placing strains on funds for humanitarian aid.

Aboul Gheit was briefed in detail by Lazzarini on the financial situation of UNRWA at the current stage when it has a funding gap of some USD$ 100 million.

Arab League’s spokesman Jamal Rushdi said that Aboul Gheit stressed the critical importance of the Agency’s work, particularly in the current phase during which Palestinian refugees in UNRWA’s five areas of operation are facing great difficulties in light of the escalating economic crises and the deterioration of living condition.

He added that both Aboul Gheit and Lazzarini discussed the best ways to bridge this gap and the plans put forward on how to ensure the sustainability of the Agency’s funding in the next stage, in a way that ensures that the services it provides to Palestinian refugees in the fields of health, education, employment, among others, are not affected.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency