<\/p>\n
03 December 2024<\/p>\n
Seventy-ninth Session,<\/strong> Delegates at the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today threw their support behind the Secretariat\u2019s request for $4.98 million in additional funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) in 2025 and called on Member States to step up their voluntary contributions.<\/p>\n In introducing the Secretariat report laying out the revised estimates, Maria Costa, Director of the Finance Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance,\u00a0said the additional funds will help carry out more than four dozen recommendations included in the independent review conducted early this year of UNRWA\u2019s mechanisms and procedures, which aim to ensure the Agency\u2019s adherence to the humanitarian principle of neutrality.<\/p>\n The representative of Uganda, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77, reaffirmed that \u201cno organization can replace or substitute UNRWA’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestine refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance\u201d.\u00a0 He underscored the international community\u2019s responsibility to support the Agency so it can carry out its indispensable operations.\u00a0 Emphasizing that any interruption or suspension would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestine refugees, he expressed deep concern about the Israeli Knesset\u2019s recent legislative actions that aim to obstruct UNRWA\u2019s operations, \u201cwhich significantly hinder the Agency\u2019s ability to fulfil its mandate\u201d.<\/p>\n Echoing concern over the two bills recently adopted by the occupying Power to stop UNRWA’s work in the occupied Palestinian territories, Algeria\u2019s delegate said:\u00a0 \u201cSuch actions would not only hinder aid but could also cause a collapse of humanitarian efforts, exacerbating the already dire situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, the representative of Saudi Arabia also called on Member States to support UNRWA so it can deliver essential services such as healthcare, food and education to Palestinians.\u00a0 \u201cIt is facing unprecedented challenges with increasing needs and less resources,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 He noted the recommendations of the group that conducted the independent review and said the revised estimates of $4.98 million will increase the Agency\u2019s capacity to meet increasing challenges, particularly in Gaza.\u00a0 He called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility to provide vital services.<\/p>\n Norway\u2019s delegate said the revised estimates will help the Agency implement the 50 wide-ranging recommendations included in the independent review. \u00a0\u201cIt is essential that UNRWA can continue its work,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n Mexico\u2019s delegate noted that the Agency\u2019s mandate, established decades ago, remains more relevant than ever.\u00a0\u201cIt is a cornerstone of the multilateral system,\u201d he said, adding that his Government had recently contributed $1 million to the Agency.<\/p>\n As Chair of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, the representative of T\u00fcrkiye urged all Member States to increase their voluntary contributions.\u00a0\u201cThe Agency has been facing extreme\u00a0physical, operational and political challenges,\u201d she said, adding that the defamation campaign against UNRWA has aggravated its already precarious financial situation.\u00a0 She commended the Agency for its swift and transparent measures to counter the allegations, including developing a high-level action plan to implement the independent review group\u2019s recommendations.\u00a0 This year, T\u00fcrkiye donated an additional $2 million to UNRWA, on top of its annual voluntary contribution of $10 million.\u00a0 \u201cWe will continue to support UNRWA\u2019s vital work politically and financially until a political solution based on the two-State vision is realized,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Likewise, the representative of Syria expressed his delegation\u2019s solidarity with UNRWA and condemned Israel\u2019s flagrant violations of international law and relevant resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine\u00a0said that on 8 December, the international community will mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of UNRWA, pursuant to Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 1949.\u00a0 He reiterated the urgent call for accountability for the killing of Agency staff and reparations for the destruction of UNRWA facilities, which violate international humanitarian law and principles enshrined in the UN Charter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United Nations’ immunity of its premises must be unequivocally respected,\u201d he added, calling on Israel to cease its systematic assaults on UNRWA premises and facilities.\u00a0His delegation condemned Israeli legislation aimed to ban UNRWA operations and essential services to millions of Palestine refugees.\u00a0 Calling UNRWA a cornerstone of stability and a testament to the international community\u2019s commitment to Palestinian refugees, he said the Agency \u201cmust be equipped with adequate and predictable funding to fulfil its mandate until a just, comprehensive and lasting solution is achieved\u201d.<\/p>\n The representative of Israel said that according to the UN Secretariat report, there is a proposal to allocate nearly $3 million to implement the recommendations of the independent review.\u00a0 While recognizing the review\u2019s importance and its recommendations, her delegation believes that there is a more reliable, effective and efficient way to implement its findings.\u00a0 The Secretariat proposes to create an additional 24 new posts.\u00a0 \u201cBut before the United Nations expands on the number of UNRWA posts, should we not first address the issue of the 100 UNRWA employees identified as being associated with the terrorist organization Hamas?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n To ensure proper implementation of the report\u2019s recommendation, the 100 UNRWA employees would be held accountable and would be fired immediately.\u00a0 Her delegation is not questioning the critical need to support the Palestinians but wants to ensure the support is provided in a way that is \u201ctransparent, ethical and aligned with the values of this institution\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n Before delegates took the floor, Ms. Costa\u00a0presented the Secretary-General\u2019s report on revised estimates relating to the proposed programme budget for 2025 under section 26, Palestine refugees\u00a0<\/em>(document\u00a0A\/79\/515<\/a><\/em>).\u00a0 She said the Secretary-General, working with UNRWA\u2019s Commissioner-General, commissioned an Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality (the \u201cIndependent Review\u201d). \u00a0The review issued 50 wide-ranging recommendations (\u201cthe Colonna report\u201d) to further strengthen the adherence to neutrality, and UNRWA developed a comprehensive action plan to implement the recommendations, for which it would require additional resources.<\/p>\n In addition, UNRWA needs to strengthen its capacity to respond sustainably to increased and emerging needs in Gaza, particularly regarding education, health, and protection services provided to Palestine refugees in Gaza.\u00a0 To address these two critical priorities, additional resource requirements totalling $4.98 million are proposed for 29 additional posts under the regular budget (1 assistant-secretary-general, 9 P-5s, 11 P-4s and 8 P-3s) as well as seven geographical redeployments and non-post resources.<\/p>\n Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) Weighs In with Related Report<\/strong><\/p>\n Abdallah Bachar Bong, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ),\u00a0introduced that body\u2019s eponymous report (document\u00a0A\/79\/7\/Add.25<\/a><\/em>). \u00a0Thanking all Member States and public and private sector donors for their contributions to UNRWA, he said the Advisory Committee trusts the Agency will continue its fundraising efforts to achieve sufficient, predictable and sustained levels of voluntary funding.<\/p>\n He said implementing\u00a0some of the independent review group\u2019s recommendations will have operational, financial and other implications that need to be addressed by the Assembly and\/or UNRWA\u2019s Advisory Commission.\u00a0 The Advisory Committee notes that some of the post and non-post proposals will be impacted by the recent two national laws adopted in Israel.\u00a0Therefore, the Advisory Committee cannot make specific recommendations regarding the proposed resources, as the Assembly must decide.<\/p>\n The Advisory Committee considers that it is necessary to strengthen the Agency\u2019s capacity to respond to increased and emerging needs, particularly in Gaza, he went on the say.\u00a0It recommends the Assembly ask the Secretary-General to determine \u2014 more comprehensively, accurately and cost-efficiently \u2014 the related additional funding requirements from the regular budget and present a proposal during the first or second resumed session of the Assembly\u2019s seventy-ninth session.<\/p>\n \/…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 03 December 2024 Seventy-ninth Session, 16th Meeting (AM) Delegates at the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today threw their support behind the Secretariat\u2019s request for $4.98 million in additional funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) in 2025 and called on Member States to step 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\n16th Meeting (AM)<\/strong><\/p>\nPermanent Observer for State of Palestine Stresses UN Premises Must Be Respected, UNRWA Must Be Given Adequate, Predictable Funding<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Representative of Israel Says UNRWA Employees Must Be Held Accountable\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Secretariat Delivers Its Reports<\/strong><\/h3>\n