On Tuesday, UNRWA was honored by the Jordanian King Abdullah II with a medal for its humanitarian work among Palestinian refugees. The Royal Court issued a statement expressing the King’s gratitude for UNRWA’s continued efforts in providing aid and basic services to refugees. During a meeting at the Gaza Emergency Humanitarian Response Conference in Sowayma, the King presented the First Class Independence Medal to UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini.
In January, Israel accused some UNRWA workers of involvement in an attack by Hamas on Israel, leading to the suspension of support from several countries, including the United States. This suspension impacted UNRWA’s ability to deliver aid to the Palestinian Strip. However, some countries later resumed their funding to support UNRWA’s mission in providing assistance to refugees.
King Abdullah emphasized the importance of supporting UNRWA during a meeting at the conference and warned against obstructing its work in Gaza, which would negatively affect approximately two million Palestinian refugees. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, also called on the world to stand together and protect UNRWA from attacks. Guterres highlighted the crucial role that UNRWA plays not only during conflict but also after its resolution.
