The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, visited Germany for the second time in 2022 during which he discussed the vital services UNRWA provides to millions of Palestine refugees with the German Foreign Minister and members of the parliament.
A UNRWA press release said the visit comes to build on the strong partnership with Germany and strengthen existing ties and highlight the growing humanitarian needs of Palestine refugees living in a highly volatile region.
Lazzarini met with newly-appointed German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and senior staff of the Ministry. The friendly and open exchange built on the first-hand impressions that Baerbock obtained during her February visit to the Palestine refugee camp Talbieh in Jordan. During her field trip, Baerbock witnessed in-person the vital services provided by UNRWA.
At their meeting, Lazzarini had the opportunity to provide further information on the many innovations that the Agency is spearheading, such as making the best use of digitalization for effective service delivery and the newly created Women Advisory Forum, which supports promoting gender parity and a gender-sensitive organizational culture.
“We are extremely grateful for the lasting and continued support from Germany to Palestine refugees,” said Lazzarini. “The Agency is constantly adapting to best fulfill its mandate and is now undertaking a comprehensive modernization and digital transformation strategy. UNRWA has also stepped-up efforts to improve environmental and social sustainability, including energy efficiency. Germany’s support contributes to these achievements, as well as to the promotion of gender equality and improved participation of families and children.”
As part of this mission, Lazzarini also held meetings with key Members of Parliament from the Greens, including Deborah Düring, Speaker for Development Policy, Lamya Kaddor, Speaker for Near East Affairs, and Boris Mijatovic, Speaker for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. This exchange was an opportunity for the Commission-General to highlight the relevance of crucial UNRWA services in education, health and social services, as well as the Agency’s commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, according to the press release.
Lazzarini concluded his visit with a meeting with the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen. The discussion focused on the Agency’s role as a key contributor to regional stability and peace in a region confronted with multiple conflicts and crises.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is a crucial partner of UNRWA. In 2021, Germany was the Agency’s second-largest donor providing EUR 150 million covering education, health care, relief and social services, as well as humanitarian aid and projects improving livelihoods. Since 2005, Germany has been a member of the UNRWA Advisory Commission, which is tasked with assisting the Agency in carrying out its mandate. In recent years, Germany has continuously increased its commitment to UNRWA and considerably expanded its financial and technical cooperation with the Agency.
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