Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philip Lazzarini, discussed on Thursday, joint efforts to provide the necessary financial support to plug the agency's financial deficit to maintain providing its vital services to refugees according to its UN mandate.

During their meeting, Safadi and Lazarini reviewed the results of intensive and continuous consultations with international partners to address the agency's financial crisis, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and prevent the financial crisis's fallout on the agency's programs, institutions and employees.

Safadi and Lazarini reviewed the current efforts to prepare for the international conference on UNRWA, which Jordan and the Kingdom of Sweden are working to hold this year, aimed at strengthening the commitment of the international community to the agency and drumming up political and financial support for it.

Safadi warned of the consequences of the lack of the necessary financial support to enable the agency continue providing its vital services to Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operations.

The FM stressed the need for UNRWA to continue providing its services according to its UN mandate until a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian refugee issue is reached.

The solution should guarantee the refugees' right to return and compensation in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, especially Resolution 194, and in the context of a comprehensive solution to the conflict that ends the occupation that began in 1967 on the basis of the two-state solution, according to Safadi.

Continuing: " Supporting the agency and ensuring continued funding to it, in a manner that enables it to fulfill its duties towards refugees, is a Jordan's continuous effort under the direct directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II."

Lazzarini, for his part, valued the Jordanian efforts, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, to drum up international support for the agency, stressing the importance of Jordan's role in cooperation with the international community to ensure the provision of the necessary support to the agency and plug the financial deficit it is facing.

On future action, Safadi and Lazzarini agreed to continue coordination and consultations bilaterally with Sweden and members of the Stockholm Group on ways to mobilize the necessary international support to enable the agency to continue providing its vital services according to its UN mandate.