Qatar urges UN to put an end to Middle East crisis

The State of Qatar called for efforts to ease concerns and to end the crises swirling in the Middle East. In a statement addressed by the Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, at the Open Debate convened by the Security Council, the state exhorted the need to continue cooperation between the neighbouring countries and to uphold mutual respect.

While addressing the Palestinian issue, the statement added that continued support from the UN Security Council and the solidarity of the international community should be ensured until the rights of the Palestinians are restored.

Sheikha Alya noted that the GCC State embraces the UN decision to resume providing support to the Palestinians and stressed the critical importance of continuing to deliver the necessary international funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees.

Earlier, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had allocated a grant worth $360 million to the Gaza Strip through UNRWA to provide financial aid to families in dire need, and operate power stations, to reduce the deteriorating the humanitarian conditions in the region. The statement highlighted that another $1.5Bn was contributed as relief fundto develop the infrastructure over the past eight years.

Qatar also expressed readiness to reach out to maintain sovereignty in Syria and to support the voluntary return of Syrian refugees in cooperation with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General.