L-R: Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN; Credit: MAEE

On Thursday 15 March 2018, Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn travelled to Rome to attend the extraordinary ministerial conference of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

While the agency is experiencing the worst financial crisis in its history, the extraordinary conference- co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Sweden- aimed to remobilise the international community around the world on the protection of the rights and dignity of Palestinian refugees.

In the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the exchange of views was an opportunity to reiterate the importance of funding the agency, which aims to meet the basic health needs of Palestinian refugees, as well as education, humanitarian aid and social services.

On this occasion, Minister Asselborn commented on the reduced funding offered by the USA to the agency: "The US decision to significantly reduce their financial contribution is jeopardising the delivery of these essential services. In the months to come this could deprive more than half a million children of their right to education or disrupt the health services of UNRWA for 3.5 million people.” He insisted that this is “simply unacceptable” and that highlighted the importance of “preserv[ing] the hope and dignity of the Palestinian refugees."

Luxembourg has always been a reliable and predictable partner of UNRWA and in the context of the current crisis, the Grand Duchy has made a substantial contribution to this year's payment. Efforts to mobilise a large contribution are currently underway and a new project in the health sector is being prepared. Luxembourg is also preparing to increase its voluntary contributions to UNRWA in the next strategic partnership agreement from 2019 to 2021.