Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met on Monday with Christian Saunders, Acting Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), to discuss ways of supporting the agency and the evolving humanitarian situation of Palestinian refugees, particularly in Gaza.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Tamim Khalaf stated that Minister Abdelatty congratulated Saunders on assuming his new role, reaffirming Egypt’s full backing for UNRWA and its irreplaceable mandate in serving Palestinian refugees. Abdelatty underscored Egypt’s firm rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people, praising UNRWA’s role in sustaining their resilience. He strongly condemned Israeli practices that undermine the agency’s work, including restrictions on humanitarian aid and essential supplies.
The meeting also addressed the future of UNRWA’s operations and the challenges it faces across its five fields of activity. Saunders shared his vision for reforming and strengthening the agency, highlighting the importance of expanding its developmental role to improve living conditions for refugees while continuing its core humanitarian mission. Both sides agreed on the necessity of bolstering UNRWA’s capacity to meet growing needs and safeguard the rights and dignity of Palestinian refugees.
