The Foreign Office said it was "a major disappointment" for the statement that the United States will stop the financial contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East [UNRWA].

Turkish Foreign Affairs stated that the UNRWA has been one of the symbols of the international community's solidarity with the oppressed people since its establishment, which has undertaken the function of meeting the basic needs of Palestinian refugees in a wide range of sectors, from education and health to employment.

Today more than 500 thousand Palestinian children receive education in UNRWA schools and nearly 1 million Palestinians are living in need of UNRWA’s urgent food aid," the statement read.

"This decision will harm regional peace and stability"

Following expressions said in the statements:

The decision of the United States will affect the lives of over 5 million Palestinians in a negative way. At the same time, this decision will harm the vision of finding a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue; regional peace and stability.

Under these circumstances, UNRWA's continuing uninterrupted operation has become a legitimacy test and a conscientious task in terms of the international community.

This issue will be discussed in detail during UN General Assembly High-Level meeting in New York, on September 27, 2018, with the co-chairmanship of Turkiye, Jordan, Japan, Sweden and the EU, and participation of UN Secretary-General and UNRWA General Commissioner.

Turkiye, who has been in full solidarity with the Palestinian people from the beginning in all fields, as the president of UNRWA’s Advisory Commission, is determined to continue to make every effort to support the Agency.

US Department of State Spokeswoman Heather Nauert has stated that her country has decided to stop the financial assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. The US, which had previously cut $ 300 million of the $ 365 million aid it provided to UNRWA, has cut its aid completely with the final decision.

ILKHA