New York, May 20, 2020, SPA -- Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Dr. Khaled bin Muhammad Manzalawi, on Tuesday participated in a virtual briefing by the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarin, on the investigations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the initiatives of the UNRWA administration. This came in response to the invitation made by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, to the Kingdom and a number of countries supporting UNRWA activities. He informed them of the current unprecedented financial crisis facing the agency that resulted from the increase in demand for services due to the growth in the number of Palestinian refugees to whom the Agency provides support and assistance. In his briefing, Lazzarin expressed his deep appreciation to all friends from different countries for their unlimited support for Palestinian refugees, and for their renewed confidence in the mandate of UNRWA, which provides its services and assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees to enjoy a decent life, and access to education, health and other basic services. In his statement during the briefing, Dr. Manzlawi stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud of being one of the largest donors to UNRWA, sensing the noble role the agency provides to serve more than 5 million Palestinian refugees, and because of its belief in the centrality of the Palestinian cause, the Kingdom has supported UNRWA with more than one billion dollars since 1994, which the humanitarian organization described as clear evidence of the kingdom's keenness to support Palestinian refugees and ensure their enjoyment of dignity and well-being, noting that the generous support of the Kingdom will contribute to the Agency's continued provision of vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operation. Dr. Manzlawi pointed out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, despite its local efforts in combating the pandemic of Covid 19, did not lose sight of its humanitarian and relief role, and was keen to provide assistance to a number of countries in need, as it provided additional support For the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, with an amount of $ 1 million, to secure life-saving medical devices and equipment and preventive supplies for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, and to support the Agency's efforts in combating the pandemic of Covid-19 in the strip, which has been suffering for many years due to the Israeli brutal blockade. The meeting was attended by the head of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of the Kingdom’s delegation, First Secretary Faisal bin Nasser Al-Haqbani. --SPA 03:26 LOCAL TIME 00:26 GMT 0036 www.spa.gov.sa/2089589