Director-General/Executive Director
Dear Commissioner-General Lazzarini,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour to welcome you to Vienna, Mr. Lazzarini, and to host this important briefing here at the Vienna International Center.
The Palestinian refugee issue remains one of the most protracted and complex humanitarian challenges of our time.
Their struggle, resilience, and hopes for a better future have long lived in the public consciousness in the region where I am from, and have resonated with me personally throughout my life.
So I am glad that we are able to hear from you today.
Next year marks the 75th anniversary of UNRWA’s establishment.
For over seven decades, the agency has been a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, providing them with schooling, social services, humanitarian relief, healthcare, and other critical services, so that they may lead a full and dignified life.
But the conditions under which UNRWA operates today are undeniably difficult, compounded by limited financial resources, regional instability, and massive displacement, which are placing immense strain on its ability to deliver these crucial services.
This situation demands our urgent attention and cannot be resolved by the agency alone.
Collective action is needed, so I strongly encourage Member States to lend their full support and commitment to the Agency.
With the necessary financial support, UNRWA can continue to fulfil its mandate effectively by delivering for those in need.
I would like to take this opportunity to salute the staff of UNRWA for their tireless efforts and commitment to the well-being of the Palestinian refugees.
As we listen to Commissioner-General Lazzarini’s briefing, let us be inspired to take action, support UNRWA in its vital mission, and work together to deliver a brighter future for the Palestinian refugees.
They depend on us now more than ever, and we must not leave them behind.
Thank you.