12 June 2023, Vienna, Austria – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) was invited to participate in a briefing by Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Office in Vienna. Hon. Merai Munther, Member of the Palestinian Delegation to PAM, represented the Assembly.

On the occasion of the launch of the new 6-year Strategic Plan of UNRWA, the Commissioner-General addressed the diplomatic community to share updates on recent developments in UNRWA’s five fields of operations (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem).

Mr. Lazzarini outlined the strategic priorities of UNRWA and gave an overview of the challenges it is currently facing, including recurrent financial constraints and budgetary requirements, which are necessary to deliver the Agency’s regular services and emergency assistance to Palestinian refugees.

On the sidelines of the briefing, Hon. Munther had the opportunity to meet bilaterally with Mr. Lazzarini, recalling the strategic role that PAM has been playing over the years in complementing the work of the international community to achieve a long-lasting stability and peace in the Middle East, and expressing the support of the Assembly for UNRWA’s fundraising efforts.

As per decision of the PAM Bureau, the Assembly has scheduled a mission to the Middle East next September, with the aim to meet with national authorities and representatives of international organizations in Amman, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. The mission is preparatory to the organization of a high-level international parliamentary conference on the Middle East peace process.//