The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has called on the international community to provide Palestine refugees with Coronavirus vaccine.

Lazzarini today received the first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine in the West Bank.

"My sincere thanks and appreciation go to the host countries that have already included vaccination of Palestine refugees as part of their respective deployment plans," said the Commissioner-General in an UNRWA press release.

“I am counting on the international community to ensure the availability of vaccines to refugees worldwide, including Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory and throughout the region,” Lazzarini added.

Lazarini pointed out that “This deadly pandemic knows no borders and does not differentiate between rich and poor, or refugee and non-refugee. The only way we are going to defeat COVID-19 is through a sustained effort by all responsible parties, without discrimination.”