Refugees
Foreign Minister IWAYA’s attendance to the Ministerial Meeting in Support of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
September 25, 2025
During his visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended the Ministerial Meeting in support of UNRWA on September 26 (on 25 local time). The overview of the meeting is as follows:
- The meeting was co-chaired by Jordan, Spain and Brazil with the aim of supporting UNRWA, and was attended by H.E. Mr. Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and Mr. Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, as well as ministers and representatives of various countries and organizations. Participants delivered statements on the support for UNRWA.
- Minister IWAYA stated that Japan has been supporting UNRWA, playing an indispensable role in supporting Palestine refugees, for more than 70 years, and that Japan encourages UNRWA’s current efforts to improve its governance. Minister IWAYA also stated that the current catastrophic situation in Gaza, including the outbreak of famine, is utterly unacceptable, and Japan has been strongly urging Israel to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza immediately to ensure the environment enabling humanitarian assistance in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, Minister IWAYA delivered that, in close collaboration with the international community, Japan is determined to make utmost efforts to support Palestine refugees through assisting UNRWA’s activities.
