The unfortunate statement that the United States will stop financial contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been a major disappointment.

Since its establishment, UNRWA has been one of the symbols of the international community's solidarity with the oppressed people, 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 eduation in UNRWA schools and nearly 1 million Palestinians are living in need of UNRWA’s urgent food aid.

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 Turkey Jordan, Japan, Sweden and the EU, and participation of UN Secretary-General and UNRWA General Commissioner.

Turkey, 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.