New York: The UAE has announced to donate $15 million (Dh55 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to help in its basic programmes for Palestinian refugees, and another $15 million to support UN Women over the next three years.

The announcement was made during a meeting between Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs and International cooperation and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, they discussed joint cooperation between the UAE and the UN, its agencies and various institutions, as well as means of boosting these relations and cooperation in various fields, especially development, humanitarian and relief areas.

Shaikh Abdullah and Guterres also reviewed coordination on important regional issues, particularly situation in Yemen and Libya, the Palestinian issue and efforts to revive the Middle East peace process.

Shaikh Abdullah reiterated the UAE’s keenness to continue working with the United Nations and coordinating with it on all levels to enhance its positive role, alongside other international partners, in supporting its efforts to deal with security and humanitarian challenges, especially those facing the Gulf and Arab region.

The UN secretary-general thanked UAE leadership, government and people for their generous support to the UN programmes, activities and funds as well as for its positive political and humanitarian role in support of efforts to address many pressing issues in the region and elsewhere.

Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State, Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui, Minister of State for Youth, and Lana Zaki Nussaibeh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, were present during the meeting.

During the UN General Assembly session, the UAE appreciated Unrwa’s work, which, it said, is important in supporting Palestinians in the fields of education, health and food, and highlighted its support to these humanitarian efforts.

The UAE also commended the UN Women’s role in supporting women’s issues.