Paris, October 19, 2026.- Cuba reaffirmed before UNESCO’s Executive Board its firm support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and called for preserving and strengthening its capacity to guarantee the right to education of Palestinian refugee children and young people. The Cuban delegation denounced Israel’s persistent actions against the Agency, attacks on humanitarian workers and United Nations institutions, and demanded an end to these violations of international law.
Speaking during the consideration of the item “Support for the Continuation of UNRWA’s Educational Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” at the 225th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board, Cuba’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organization, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, acknowledged UNESCO’s efforts in support of educational activities in the occupied Palestinian territory and its cooperation with UNRWA in this area.
The Cuban representative warned that the unprecedented escalation of Israeli aggression, the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, indiscriminate violence and restrictions on movement are seriously affecting education at all levels. In this context, she stressed the urgent need to preserve and strengthen UNRWA, ensuring that it receives the political, financial and operational support required to fulfil its important mandate.
Cuba highlighted that UNRWA provides education to more than half a million Palestinian refugee children and delivers basic social services to millions of Palestinian refugees. It warned that any attempt to weaken or dismantle the Agency, precisely when its services are more urgently needed than ever, jeopardizes the right to education of an entire generation and the future of Palestinian refugee communities.
The Ambassador strongly condemned Israel’s persistent actions against UNRWA and attacks on humanitarian workers and United Nations institutions, which exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. She stated that such acts constitute flagrant violations of international law and must cease.
Cuba also reaffirmed that UNRWA is indispensable because of its experience, capacity and specialized mandate in addressing the needs of Palestinian refugees. Beyond providing essential basic services, the Agency represents a symbol of the international community’s commitment and responsibility to the rights, dignity and future of this population. Its work cannot be replaced by any other institution.
The Cuban delegation stressed that support for UNRWA is not only a humanitarian obligation, but also a moral and political imperative to defend the rights of Palestinian refugees and ensure that they can live with dignity and access education.
The statement is reproduced below:
Madam President,
We acknowledge the efforts undertaken by UNESCO in support of educational activities in the occupied Palestinian territory and its cooperation with UNRWA in this area.
Unfortunately, the unprecedented escalation of Israeli aggression, the campaign of deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, indiscriminate violence and restrictions on movement are seriously affecting education at all levels.
Cuba reiterates its firm support for UNRWA and reaffirms the urgent need to preserve and strengthen this Agency, ensuring that it receives the political, financial and operational support required to fulfil its important mandate. UNRWA provides education to more than half a million Palestinian refugee children, in addition to delivering basic social services to millions of Palestinian refugees.
At a time when its services are more urgently needed than ever, any attempt to weaken or dismantle UNRWA jeopardizes not only the right to education of an entire generation, but also the future of Palestinian refugee communities.
Cuba strongly condemns Israel’s persistent actions against UNRWA and attacks on humanitarian workers and United Nations institutions, which exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. Such acts constitute flagrant violations of international law and must cease.
UNRWA, as the only specialized agency entirely dedicated to addressing the pressing needs of Palestinian refugees, is indispensable. It is not merely an organization providing essential basic services; it is also a symbol of the international community’s commitment and responsibility to the rights of Palestinian refugees. No other institution has the capacity and experience to replace it in this important role.
Support for UNRWA is not only a humanitarian obligation; it is also a moral and political imperative to defend the dignity, rights and future of Palestinian refugees.
Thank you very much.