Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan received Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and his accompanying delegation at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday.
During the meeting, they reviewed the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and UNRWA and the ways to further enhance it.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Faisal reaffirmed the Kingdom’s backing for the agency and called on all UNRWA donors to contribute to humanitarian efforts for the Palestinians, aiming to alleviate the impact of the ongoing crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Rasi, deputy minister of foreign for multiple international affairs, also attended the meeting.
Amid allegations of misconduct within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), 16 donor countries, including major contributors like the US and Germany, have suspended their funding, collectively referred to as the “suspenders” within UN headquarters in New York.
Approximately $440 million in funding is now at risk, and UNRWA faces a critical financial situation, with the possibility of running out of funds by the end of February if donors persist in withholding contributions. The freezing of support by the United States, Germany, and other donor nations, as well as the European Union, is contingent upon their satisfaction with the outcomes of the UN’s ongoing investigation into the alleged misconduct.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the importance of complete accountability for those involved in the alleged “heinous attacks,” reiterating the US stance on resuming funding only when assured of a thorough investigation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on donor nations to promptly reinstate funding to UNRWA, highlighting the swift actions being taken by the UN to address the allegations. In an additional move, Guterres has requested Pierre Krähenbühl, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, to commission an independent assessment by an external organization to complement the internal UN review.
On Monday, the UN disclosed the appointment of Catherine Colonna, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, to lead the Independent Review Group. This group’s mandate is to assess whether UNRWA is exerting its utmost efforts to maintain neutrality and respond effectively to allegations of serious breaches. Commencing its work on February 14, the Independent Review Group plans to deliver an interim report to the secretary-general in late March, with the final report, expected to be made public, anticipated by late April 2024.