China has played a “very important role” in peace efforts and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip, a United Nations (UN) official has said.
“I would like to thank China for its strong support to UNRWA and to the humanitarian sector in the Middle East,” said Antonia Marie De Meo, deputy commissioner-general for Operational Support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), during a recent interview with Xinhua in Ramallah.
Last week, China donated 3 million U.S. dollars to UNRWA to support its emergency humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
De Meo said China’s new donation will provide financial support to UNRWA, and it will go to the people of Gaza.
Apart from financial support, De Meo added, political support from China is also very important.
“China has consistently called for a cease-fire, and this is very important. China has also supported the agency, has made a note of the fact that there has been misinformation and disinformation against the agency, which we really appreciate, because the agency has been called out and attacked for quite some time,” she said.
During the interview, De Meo told Xinhua that she would like to commend China for the role it has played in the Beijing Declaration and being able to bring Palestinian factions together to discuss a potential cease-fire.
At the invitation of the Chinese side, high-level representatives of 14 Palestinian factions held a reconciliation dialogue in Beijing from July 21 to 23 and inked the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity, which many consider would create precious hope for peace and stability in the Middle East.
“This part of China’s political leadership role in calling for a cease-fire and actually making that a reality by hosting the Beijing Declaration” is important, De Meo said.