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I<\/strong>. <\/i>UN SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
\nISSUES STATEMENT ON UN PROJECTS IN GAZA<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry issued the following statement on 9 December 2013 on Israel's decision to resume the transfer of construction material for UN projects in Gaza:<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n
The Special Coordinator confirms that the Government of Israel has decided to resume the transfer of construction materials for UN projects in Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n
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The United Nations is implementing a package worth US$500 million of critical construction projects such as schools, social housing and water and sanitation facilities in Gaza. The United Nations will continue to preserve the integrity of these works through their uninterrupted and transparent implementation in accordance with agreed procedures.<\/p><\/div>\n
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The situation in Gaza remains concerning and the United Nations is engaged with relevant parties in trying to address the most urgent issues such as energy, water and private sector construction. The United Nations hopes that a solution will be found quickly to the particularly pressing energy situation, and calls on the support of the international community in this regard. Now is the time for those considering a contribution to step forward, urgently and decisively.<\/p><\/div>\n
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II. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS FOUR RESOLUTIONS ON PALESTINE REFUGEES<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
On 11 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted four resolutions (68\/76 – 79) on Palestine refugees. For the voting record please see (A\/68\/PV.65). The text of the resolutions is reproduced below:<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n
68\/76. Assistance to Palestine refugees <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
The General Assembly,<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling <\/i>its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 67\/114 of 18 December 2012,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling also <\/i>its resolution 302 (W) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling further <\/i>the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Aware <\/i>of the fact that, for more than six decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Affirming <\/i>the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Acknowledging <\/i>the essential role that the Agency has played for over 60 years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees through the provision of education, health, relief and social services and ongoing work in the areas of camp infrastructure, microfinance, protection and emergency assistance,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the report of the Commissioner-General of the Agency covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2012,<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Aware <\/i>of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Expressing grave concern <\/i>at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socioeconomic living conditions,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Expressing grave concern in particular <\/i>at the critical humanitarian situation and socioeconomic conditions of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance and urgent reconstruction efforts,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Noting <\/i><\/span>the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span> by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization and the subsequent implementation agreements,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
1.\t<\/span>Notes with regret <\/i>that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern and the Palestine refugees continue to require assistance to meet basic health, education and living needs;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
2.\t<\/span>Also notes with regret <\/i>that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to fmd a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reiterates its request to the Conciliation Commission to continue exerting efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly on the efforts being exerted in this regard as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2014;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
3.\t<\/span>Affirms <\/i>the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its unimpeded operation and its provision of services for the well-being, protection and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
4.\t<\/span>Calls upon <\/i>all donors to continue to strengthen their efforts to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including with regard to increased expenditures arising from the serious socioeconomic and humanitarian situation and instability in the region, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those needs mentioned in recent emergency appeals and in the regional crisis response plans to address the situation of Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic and those Palestine refugees who have fled to countries in the region;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
5.\t<\/span>Commends <\/i>the Agency for its provision of vital assistance to the Palestine refugees and its role as a stabilizing factor in the region and the tireless efforts of the staff of the Agency in carrying out its mandate;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
6.\t<\/span>Decides <\/i>to extend the mandate of the Agency until 30 June 2017, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III). <\/p><\/div>\n\n
The General Assembly,<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling <\/i>its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling also <\/i>Security\t<\/span>Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 67\/115 of 18 December 2012,<\/span>3<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Taking note also <\/i><\/span>of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2012,<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Concerned <\/i>about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Taking note also <\/i>of its resolution 67\/19 of 29 November 2012,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
1.\t<\/span>Reaffirms <\/i>the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their<\/p><\/div>\n\n
2.\t<\/span><\/span>Stresses <\/i><\/span>the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons, and calls for compliance with the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993<\/span>3<\/sup><\/span> on the return of displaced persons;<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
3.\t<\/span>Endorses, <\/i>in the meantime, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
4.\t<\/span>Strongly\t<\/span>appeals <\/i>to\t<\/span>all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes;<\/p><\/div>\n\n
5.\t<\/span>Requests <\/i>the\t<\/span>Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its sixty-ninth session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
68\/78. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
The General Assembly,<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling <\/i>its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (W) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution 67\/116 of 18 December 2012,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling also <\/i>the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Having considered <\/i><\/span>the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2012,<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the letter dated 17 June 2013 from the Chair of the Advisory Commission of the Agency to the Commissioner-General,<\/span>7<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Deeply concerned <\/i>about the extremely critical financial situation of the Agency, caused in part by the structural underfunding of the Agency, as well as its rising expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions and the rising instability in the region and their significant negative impact on the provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency-related and development programmes in all fields of operation,<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling <\/i><\/span>Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,<\/span>8<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recalling also <\/i><\/span>the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,<\/span>9<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Affirming <\/i><\/span>the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,<\/span>