Anwar Gargash and new UNRWA chief hold talks on Palestinians

The UAE is set to chair the refugee agency's Advisory Board from July

Dr Anwar Gargash singled out the UAE's strategic relationship with the US for praise. Reuters

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash held a phone call with Philippe Lazzarini, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees' new chief, on Monday.

He said they spoke ahead of the UAE taking over the chair of the agency's advisory board from July.

He reiterated the UAE's support for the Palestinian cause, weeks after Abu Dhabi condemned Israeli plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank.

"Our commitment to the Palestinian cause and refugee support is principled. UAE aid to the agency during the past 6 years amounted to $216 million, which included education, health and social services," he said.

The agency has faced a cash crisis after US President Donald Trump removed all American funding of the body, leaving other states to stump up the cash to meet the shortfall.

The annexation plan "is a dangerous development that would undermine international efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict", the UAE said, according to a Wam report this month.

Israel's action is "unacceptable, violates international law and impedes the peace process", it said.

The UAE warned of "dangerous repercussions" and said the move could "fuel extremism, and terrorism in the region".

The international community must "fulfil its responsibility in calling for an end to all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories" and "reject Israeli actions that violate international resolutions", it said.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees is struggling to cope with the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak in Jordan after a nationwide lockdown that left almost everyone in the camps without work.

Increased assistance to offset the loss of income for refugees has left the UN Relief and Works Agency needing an additional $100 million in funding by the end of May, officials say.