Mexico reaffirms its support for UNRWA's neutrality and inviolability

Mexico reaffirms its support for UNRWA's neutrality and inviolability

• Mexico underscores UNRWA's role as a source of hope and opportunity for millions of Palestinian refugees including children and women, and recognizes the severe humanitarian risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of UNRWA's essential and irreplaceable work.

Mexico supports the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) established by UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) in December 1949.

We acknowledge UNRWA's crucial and indispensable role throughout its 75-year existence. The agency's work is vital in ensuring human rights and providing humanitarian assistance including basic and emergency services to nearly six million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We welcome the decision by various donor countries to resume their voluntary financial contributions to the agency.

Mexico reaffirms its financial support for UNRWA and commends the agency's efforts, which are carried out in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence. This commitment is further demonstrated by the immediate establishment of an independent external review of the agency, the Secretary-General's endorsement of the review's recommendations, and the Commissioner-General's pledge to implement them.

Mexico reaffirms its support for UNRWA's neutrality and inviolability. We stress that no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity, particularly given the complex situation faced by thousands of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory.