AMMAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and Sweden on Tuesday hosted an online pledging conference for all UN member states in support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and raised around 130 million U.S. dollars for the agency.
The meeting aimed to urge the UN member states to expand financial mechanisms, and ensure the refugee agency to continuously provide services to the Palestinian refugees in its five operation areas, including Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt.
Speaking during an online conference, Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres said it was his duty to convey a message of support to the vital work of UNRWA, which is the lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees.
In 2018, the U.S. State Department said the United States would not provide assistance funding any more for the UNRWA.
The agency's core funding gap for 2020 stands at 400 million U.S. dollars, according to Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, who participated in the event.
Jordan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi said Jordan and the other countries stand by UNRWA as it performs noble, vital, and essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees. Enditem
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