The UAE has highlighted that the role of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA is “indispensable and irreplaceable”, joining 117 other countries in voicing support for the agency.
Presenting the UAE's statement at a pledging conference for the agency in New York, Mohammed Abushahab, UAE ambassador to the UN, said the country rejected any attempts to undermine its role in Gaza as it “provides a glimmer of hope to Palestinian refugees in these difficult circumstances”.
“My country stands in solidarity with the UNRWA’s efforts to continue its vital role despite the serious challenges” it faces.
Nearly 200 UNRWA employees have been killed, with Israel attacking many of its facilities and accusing some of its staff of involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Several countries resumed funding after suspending it, with the UN conducting an internal investigation into its workings.
Since the outbreak of the conflict last October, the UAE has “provided an additional contribution to the UNRWA, amounting to $20 million to support our Palestinian brothers in Gaza”, Mr Abushahab added.
During the session, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to all UN member states to “protect the UNRWA, protect the UNRWA staff and protect the UNRWA’s mandate – including through funding”.
“Let me be clear: there is no alternative to the UNRWA,” he added.
The agency was created in 1949 by a UN General Assembly to serve Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
With the war on Gaza entering its 10th month, Mr Abushahab said the UAE “continues to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire”.
He highlighted the country's humanitarian efforts under the Gallant Knight 3 operation.
So far, the UAE field hospital in Gaza has treated more than 21,000 patients, while the floating hospital at Al Arish in Egypt has treated 700 more.
Since the launch of the aid mission in November, the UAE has provided 33,100 tonnes of urgent supplies to Gaza.
The figures, released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, show the aid was delivered by 320 flights, seven ships and 1,243 lorries up until June 13.
Under operation Gallant Knight 3, the UAE also established two hospitals to help those in need, including a field hospital in the southern Gaza Strip and the floating hospital.
It has also helped set up five automatic bakeries and six desalination plants that produce 1.2 million gallons of clean drinking water a day to 600,000 people in the Gaza Strip.
A total of 3,382 tonnes of relief supplies were also sent to isolated parts of Gaza by aid drops.
If you go...
Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.
Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
More from Neighbourhood Watch
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
