NEW YORK: Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN headquarters in New York, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai, affirmed that UNRWA is a lifeline agency serving millions of Palestinian refugees in the region and occupied Palestine. This affirmation came following a press conference at the UN headquarters late Thursday where 123 nations reiterated support to UNRWA. This came in connection to an initiative launched by Kuwait, Jordan and Slovenia in May to display support for UNRWA.

Bannai reaffirmed a joint global commitment towards the agency, warning of dire consequences of suspending UNRWA’s operations and obligations towards Palestinians. On his part, Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Mahmoud Hmoud stressed that there was no replacement to UNRWA, which has helped generations of Palestinian refugees. He expressed his infuriation towards the Zionist occupation’s efforts to hinder UNRWA including a recent push in the Knesset to formulate a law that forbids the agency from continuing its mission in occupied Palestine. He also highlighted the report by the independent review committee on UNRWA, commending the commitment by UNRWA to implement recommendations mentioned in the document.

Permanent Palestinian Representative to the UN Riyad Mansour lauded UNRWA, deeming it as a success story for multifaceted joint UN cooperation.

He affirmed that all efforts would be dedicated to protect UNRWA based on resolution 194, which states: “Refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or equity, should be made good by the governments or authorities responsible.”

Meanwhile, Kuwait has been supporting Palestinians’ cause and rights through political, diplomatic and humanitarian channels, a Kuwaiti official said on Friday. Delivering Kuwait’s speech before the UN second committee of economic affairs on Palestine, Abdullah Bu Abbas, Kuwait’s diplomatic attache, said “My country is supporting recognizing Palestine in the international community and taking part in international political initiatives aiming to find a fair and permanent solution to Palatine’s cause and end the (Zionist) occupation”.

Kuwait has spared no efforts for this purpose by all means, he said, calling on the international community to back Palestinians who have been facing Zionist occupation aggression for years. Palestine has been facing grave economic challenges, which hinder its stability and development, he stressed. Bu Abbas referred to ongoing disputes and political instability as well as the blockade imposed by the Zionist occupation that badly affected vital sectors in Palestine like agriculture, industry and trade.

According to a UN report issued in May, more than 80 percent of Gaza’s population is below the poverty level, Bu Abbas stated. He noted that about 5.8 percent of agricultural and food industries in the West Bank have almost been suspended. The situation in Gaza has extremely been tough as there is no real improvement in humanitarian aid access or healthcare support over the past weeks, he warned. Bu Abbas highlighted some UN Security Council resolutions regarding the protection of civilians in Palestine. – KUNA