Jakarta Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to assist Palestinian refugees during the ministerial meeting on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in New York on Thursday.

“Indonesia is always firm to support the activities of UNRWA, a UN body assigned to assist Palestine refugees,” she said in a written statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Friday (Sept 23).

She expressed concern over the international stand, which seemingly sees the fate of Palestine refugees as something normal.

“In fact, the Palestine refugees have the (same) right to enjoy life as ours,” she said.

She called upon the world community to assist the UNRWA, which is currently handling nearly five million Palestine refugees.

UNRWA began its activities in 1950 to help Palestinians who sought refuge due to Israel’s annexation of Palestinian territory. The UN body is currently facing financial difficulties.

The ministerial meeting was held on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly to find a solution to the difficulties. The meeting was co-chaired by Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

Marsudi highlighted two steps that can be taken to help UNRWA: first, overcoming obstacles to UNRWA’s finances, and second, ensuring that UNRWA performs its duties well.

“To this end, Indonesia supports (the UN) Secretary General’s plan to increase the UNRWA budget fund through compulsory contribution,” she said.

The support for UNRWA is a part of the peaceful solution to the Palestine issue, she added.

Source: Antara News