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King decorates UNRWA
His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday presents the
Istiqlal Medal
of the First Order to UNRWA Commissioner General Karen AbuZayd
in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania (Photo by Yousef Allan)
DEAD SEA (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday
bestowed the Istiqlal Medal of the First Order on the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in recognition of the agency's 60 years
of service to Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA Commissioner General Karen AbuZayd received the award on the
agency's behalf, following a meeting with King Abdullah and Her Majesty
Queen Rania.
During the meeting, King Abdullah stressed the need to provide all
possible support to UNRWA in executing its humanitarian work for
Palestinian refugees. He especially commended UNRWA's assistance to the
Palestinians during the recent Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.
King Abdullah said Jordan would continue its support for UNRWA, and
noted that the Jordan Armed Forces field hospital in Gaza, which
provides medical services to the Palestinian people, will continue to
complement the work that UNRWA is doing in Gaza.
During the meeting, the King also emphasised the refugees' rights to
return and compensation.
"I am deeply honoured to have been invited to meet Their Majesties,
particularly as this was my first meeting with the King," AbuZayd said
following the meeting.
"I remain extremely grateful for their continuing personal involvement
with Palestine refugees and with our work at UNRWA," she added.
"In this, our 60th anniversary year, it is important to pay tribute to
our friends in this region and those such as our partners in Jordan who
have given to us and the refugees so generously over six decades. But it
is also important to take stock and remind the world that 60 years of
exile and statelessness is unacceptable, and that a political resolution
for the refugees must be found."
17 May 2009
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