UNRWA Commissioner-General expresses concern for Palestinians in Libya-Press release

UNRWA COMMISSIONER-GENERAL EXPRESSES CONCERN FOR PLIGHT

OF PALESTINIANS LEAVING LIBYA

VIENNA, 13 September (UNRWA) — The  Commissioner-General of  the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Ilter Turkmen, expressed his concern today about recent reports that Palestinians were having to leave Libya. "Once again, this illustrates the plight of the Palestine refugees and focuses the legitimate concerns of the international community on their situation", Mr. Turkmen said.

According to the information currently available to the Agency, as a result of the Libyan action, several countries in UNRWA's area of operations are now imposing restrictions on the entry of Palestinians. Even Palestinians who have rights of residence have been prevented from returning to their homes. The Commissioner-General pointed out that while those matters were within the jurisdiction of the sovereign States concerned, the humanitarian dimension of this developing situation calls for immediate attention. "The Agency stands ready to provide its humanitarian services to those Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA in its area of operations", Mr. Turkmen said.

The Commissioner-General said that the Agency would strive whenever possible to prevent hardship to the refugees, by way of intervention with the governments concerned, where necessary together with other relevant United Nations organizations. As always, the humanitarian services which UNRWA extends to the Palestine refugees are provided in close coordination with the governments concerned.

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