Sabbagh affirms Syria’s support for UNRWA’s activities

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Bassam Sabbagh and the Deputy Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)  Antonia Marie Di Meo, held talks at Foreign  Ministry’s headquarters on the historical relationship between the agency and the Syrian Arab Republic. The talks were attended Director of the Agency’s office in Damascus Amanya Michael Ibibi.

During the meeting that took place today at the Ministry’s headquarters, Sabbagh stressed the historical relationship between the agency and the Syrian Arab Republic. He expressed his appreciation over the important work that UNRWA is doing in Syria and the neighboring countries, by providing support, protection, and direct relief programs for Palestinian refugees.

He stressed that Syria’s support for the agency’s work stems from its firm position in supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to return and establish their independent state on their national territory. He reiterated Syria’s commitment to providing all necessary facilitations to the agency to fulfill its mandate.

Sabbagh noted the Israeli hostile campaigns against UNRWA which aimed at liquidating the agency’s mandate and ending the services it provides to the Palestinian people, stressing Syria’s absolute refusal to undermine UNRWA’s mandate.

For her part, Di Meo thanked the Syrian government for the facilitations it provides  to UNRWA. She also explained the efforts exerted by the agency to help Palestinian refugees in Syria and neighboring countries, and to address the financial crisis to which the agency is exposed as a result of the severe shortage in funding. She stressed the continuation of UNRWA in mobilizing the international momentum required to ensure access to sustainable financing for its activities.

Hamda Mustafa