Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and Commissioner General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini held a trilateral meeting over rallying the necessary international support to UNRWA to meet the agency's financial needs amid the increasing financial pressures and requirements to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a ministry statement.

Lazzarini, during the virtual meeting via video conferencing, briefed the envoys on the agency's financial situation and its efforts to provide the necessary support, touching on the agency's future plans.

Talks during the meeting went over the financial challenges facing UNRWA and the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic on Palestinian refugee communities.

The officials also highlighted the importance of continuing the agency's programmes, as part of international efforts to handle and contain the consequences of the pandemic.

Offering financial support needed for the agency to provide vital services to Palestinian refugees is “a basis for regional stability and security”, the officials noted.

The three sides also confirmed the ongoing consultations with international partners to ensure sustainable political and financial support for the agency, in accordance with long-term financing mechanisms so as to allow the agency to continue providing “efficient and uninterrupted” vital services to Palestinian refugees. 

Talks also tackled preparations for the joint working group meeting in Stockholm, which will be organised by Jordan and Sweden next month to discuss financial and political support to the agency with international partners.

The group, which held a virtual meeting on April 22, 2020, includes Jordan, Sweden, Egypt, Kuwait, Norway, Germany, Britain, France, Japan and the EU, besides UNRWA.

Safadi stressed the importance of boosting political and financial support to the agency to enable it to continue playing its UN-mandated role, until reaching a lasting and a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, most notably UN General Assembly Resolution 194.