On the sideline of the G20 Summit in China, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince, Mohamad Bin Salman met today with The Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss Saudi financial support for the UN Palestine refugees agency, the conflict in Yemen, protection of children, as well as the Paris Agreement on climate change, reported UN News Center
During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General thanked Saudi Arabia for its continuing financial support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), according to a readout issued by Ban Ki-Moon’s office.
The UN chief emphasized the urgency to close the current funding gap affecting UNRWA’s operations for Palestinian children and the most vulnerable, the readout said.
The Secretary-General reiterated that a negotiated political settlement in Yemen remained the only viable solution for the country and expressed his continuing concern at the conflict’s impact on civilian lives. He reminded all parties of their obligation to respect international humanitarian law, the readout added.
Regarding the Children and Armed Conflict report, the Secretary-General and the Deputy Crown Prince discussed the status of the ongoing review of measures to strengthen protection of children, the readout noted.
In June, The UN has removed the Saudi-led coalition from the blacklist of nations and armed groups responsible for killing children and violating children’s rights during conflict.
At that time, spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said the decision of adding Saudi Arabia’s coalition to the annual blacklist was temporary, pending a review of the evidence, human rights campaigners expressed outrage that the global body had succumbed to pressure.
