Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a meeting on Saturday to discuss efforts to provide the necessary financial and political support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The meeting was attended by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.

Safadi, Guterres, and Lazzarini agreed on the need to act effectively to ensure the provision of the financial support needed by UNRWA, which is suffering from a financial crisis that hinders its capability to provide its vital services to Palestinian refugees, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

During the meeting, Safadi stressed UNRWA’s vital role to support Palestinian refugees, stressing the Jordan’s continued work with international and regional partners to mobilize political and financial support for the agency to enable it to continue to provide its vital services to refugees in accordance with its UN mandate.

Guterres stressed the importance of UNRWA’s continued support and the centrality of its role in providing essential services for Palestinian refugees.

Lazzarini, who had met with Safadi separately prior to the meeting with Guterres, stressed the importance of the international community to continue to fulfill its financial obligations to UNRWA, reviewing the agency’s plans for the coming years, and the challenges facing its budget and financial deficit.