Türkiye's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız, warned Tuesday that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is facing unprecedented political attacks aimed at undermining its mandate, urging stronger international support for the organization.
Speaking at the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee's announcement of voluntary contributions to UNRWA, Yıldız said the agency continues to face both financial and political challenges despite its critical humanitarian role.
"For over 75 years, UNRWA has remained an indispensable pillar of stability, dignity, and hope, providing education, health care, food assistance, social services, emergency relief, shelter, and protection to nearly six million Palestinian refugees," he said.
"Today, however, chronic financial shortfalls continue to undermine the agency's ability to provide essential services. Simultaneously, UNRWA has come under unprecedented political pressure, including systematic campaigns to undermine its credibility, question its legitimacy and constrain its operations," he added.
Established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1949, UNRWA continues to provide humanitarian assistance, education, health care and social services to Palestinian refugees across the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
