Sisi Reaffirms Support to UNRWA for Palestinians

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Saturday Philippe Lazzarini, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

"The President welcomed the visit of the UNRWA Commissioner, stressing Egypt’s absolute support for the Agency to continue playing its role in providing essential and necessary services to Palestinian refugees," said Rady.

Sisi noted that UNRWA "is the only mechanism that carries out this important humanitarian responsibility to improve the conditions of Palestinians in the Palestinian territories, especially in fields of Education and health."

In the same context, the president pointed out that Egypt stresses, during its contacts with all regional and international parties, the importance of providing the necessary support to UNRWA.

Sisi affirmed Egypt’s readiness to contribute to supporting some of the agency’s projects, which contribute to relieving the Palestinian citizens, especially through the Egyptian Initiative for the Reconstruction of Gaza, which has entered its second operational phase.

On his part, Lazzarini expressed his honor to meet the Egyptian President, reviewing the role of UNRWA and the current challenges it faces in light of the worsening situation at the regional and global levels.

He also stressed UNRWA's reliance on Egypt's historic and appreciated role in mobilizing the support of the international community for the agency to continue its role in supporting Palestinian refugees.

The UNRWA Commissioner also praised the high priority that Egypt attaches to the file of improving conditions in the Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, which is reflected in the accelerated steps taken to enhance the ongoing efforts to rebuild the Strip within the framework of the Egyptian initiative to allocate $500 million for this purpose.

Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Major General Abbas Kamel, Head of General Intelligence, took part in the meeting.