Last updated: Thursday, 13 November 2025, 5:14 PM
Ramallah – Department of Refugee Affairs
Dr. Ahmed Abu Hulay, Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Director of the Department of Refugee Affairs, met today at his office in Ramallah with the British Consul General in Jerusalem, Ms. Helen Winterton. The meeting was held in preparation for the upcoming UNRWA Advisory Commission meetings, scheduled to take place in Amman, Jordan, on 19–20 November 2025, as well as to discuss ways to enhance British support for the agency and ensure its continued ability to carry out its humanitarian mission toward Palestinian refugees.
Attending from the Department were Deputy Director Mr. Anwar Hammam, International Relations Expert Ms. Mai Odeh, Media Representative Mr. Hosni Saabneh, and Director of the Minister’s Office Mr. Abdel Karim Al-Ajrami. From the British Consulate, the meeting included Mr. Ayham Nasser, Project and UNRWA Affairs Officer.
Both sides emphasized the important role the United Kingdom plays in supporting the work of the Advisory Commission and backing its efforts to ensure the continuity of UNRWA services across its five fields of operation, especially amid escalating financial and humanitarian challenges.
Dr. Abu Hulay stressed the vital humanitarian and developmental role that UNRWA has played for over 76 years, as the largest and most experienced UN agency providing services to Palestinian refugees, noting that the agency delivered approximately 60% of humanitarian aid during the genocide war on the Gaza Strip.
He affirmed that UNRWA’s continued operations require sustainable and predictable funding, which is essential for the continuity of its services in education, health, and social services, as well as the relief it provides amid the growing humanitarian needs following the war on Gaza.
He also referred to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which affirmed UNRWA’s central role as a primary provider of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, its unique mandate, and its close connection to refugee communities, calling on the international community to implement the decision’s outcomes and strengthen UNRWA’s position within the international humanitarian framework.
Dr. Abu Hulay highlighted that UNRWA has implemented the Colonna recommendations, enhancing its standing and role within the international humanitarian system, and stressed the need to increase funding and bridge all financial gaps facing the agency.
He underscored the importance of voting to renew UNRWA’s mandate for the next three years during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in December, considering it a crucial step to ensure the agency’s operational stability and the continuity of its core services to Palestinian refugees.
In this context, Dr. Abu Hulay appreciated the United Kingdom’s supportive stance toward UNRWA and its recognition of the State of Palestine, expressing gratitude for its commitment to the two-state solution and continuous support for the Palestinian people.
He also reviewed the dire humanitarian conditions faced by Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, northern West Bank camps, and Jerusalem, amid the aftermath of the genocide war in Gaza and the escalation of criminal acts in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, noting the scale of the humanitarian disaster that requires intensified international efforts and increased relief support.
In conclusion, both sides affirmed the need to strengthen international support for UNRWA, build upon the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, and implement the Colonna recommendations, to ensure the agency’s service continuity and stability, safeguard the dignity of Palestinian refugees, and maintain regional stability.
