VIENNA: Kuwait strongly condemned the ongoing attacks targeting facilities, places of worship, hospitals, and buildings affiliated with the United Nations (UN), including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Palestine. This came in a statement by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, during a meeting of the UN Advisory Committee and the UNRWA.

Ambassador Al-Hayen reaffirmed Kuwait’s steadfast and principled commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause, expressing Kuwait’s aspiration to enhance its partnership with the UNRWA on all fronts. Ambassador Al-Hayen also emphasized Kuwait’s support for the noble and significant role that UNRWA played in providing vital humanitarian aid to the people who were affected in occupied Palestine, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

The Kuwaiti ambassador pointed out that this commitment was clearly reflected through Kuwait’s support for various initiatives in this regard, the latest being the political initiative launched in collaboration with Jordan and Slovenia, aimed at strengthening countries’ commitment to UNRWA. Ambassador Al-Hayen confirmed that Kuwait would spare no efforts in supporting UN agencies, especially the UNRWA, having contributed more than $300 million over the past decade, with the latest contribution being approximately $30 million to support the agency’s relief efforts.

He added that Kuwait urged the international community to increase financial and political support for UNRWA, particularly in the current circumstances, to help the agency fulfill its mandated role. In his speech, Ambassador Al-Hayen addressed the continued brutal and blatant aggression by the Zionist occupation in Gaza and Rafah, which can only be described as a violation of all international and humanitarian laws. He stated that this ongoing aggression has resulted in more than 37,000 martyrs, targeted more than 88 percent of schools, with the latest being Al-Sardi School on June 6, 2024, and destroyed nearly 435 health facilities and more than 260 places of worship.

GAZA: A horse-drawn cart loaded with belongings is prepared for evacuating people in the yard of the Asma school run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in the Shati camp for Palestinian refugees, west of Gaza City.- AFP

GAZA: Humanitarian aid packages are dropped on the Gaza Strip near Rafah on June 25, 2024.- AFP

Ambassador Al-Hayen expressed his deepest condolences to the families of humanitarian workers who lost their lives while performing their duties with honesty and integrity due to the ongoing bombardment, which claimed the lives of 200 workers, 193 of whom were UNRWA employees. Ambassador Al-Hayen also thanked UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini for his representation of the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its impact on Palestinian refugees, expressing sincere appreciation for his tireless efforts. — KUNA