LONDON: The plight of Palestinian refugees was the focus of discussions on Tuesday between the chiefs of the Arab League and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

The Arab League’s Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit met with the UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini at the headquarters of the Arab League, where they also discussed the financial challenges facing the agency.

Aboul Gheit expressed his support for the UNRWA’s mission and urged donor countries to not reduce their funding commitments to the agency.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also met Lazzarini during his visit to Cairo. They discussed the UNRWA’s work in assisting Palestinian refugees in countries across the region.

The meeting comes as the UN announced on Tuesday that it was releasing $125 million from its emergency relief fund to boost underfunded humanitarian operations in 14 countries around the world, saying needs are skyrocketing.

The UN Central Emergency Relief Fund said it would also provide $6 million to the Palestinian territories.

The meeting comes as Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant during an army raid in the West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian health officials said. Elsewhere in the occupied territory an armed teenage Palestinian opened fire on Israeli soldiers, wounding one before being shot and killed.

With AP