New york: The United Nations General Assembly approved a three-year extension of the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The extension passed with 151 countries voting in favor, 10 against, and 14 abstaining.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the vote as reflecting broad international solidarity with Palestinian refugees. He stated, “I commend the overwhelming vote in the UN General Assembly to renew our mandate.” Lazzarini further commented on the X platform, “This vote represents a recognition of the international community’s responsibility to support the humanitarian and development needs of Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution is found to their decades-long suffering.”

Lazzarini explained that “the necessary resources must be provided to UNRWA following the General Assembly’s approval of the renewal of the agency’s mandate,” concluding, “This vote must now be translated into a genuine commitment and corresponding resources to ensure that its tasks are carried out as required.”