Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73^rd Session of the UN General Assembly

25 June 2016

Secretary-General, António Guterres,

Excellencies,

UNRWA Commissioner General, Mr Pierre Krähenbühl,

I am very grateful for your presence here today at this important meeting. Last September, at the Ministerial Meeting on UNRWA, I was encouraged by many countries that pledged support for this essential Agency. Together, we managed to raise over 200 million dollars in 6 months, helping to ensure that schools – and other basic services – were able to continue.

But, sadly, we find ourselves meeting again today in the context of a serious funding shortfall. In 2019, UNRWA needs 1.2 billion dollars to deliver its regular programmes to 5.4 million Palestine refugees –1.5 million people of whom have been affected by humanitarian emergencies. The current projected shortfall is 211 million dollars.

And for this, UNRWA provides healthcare, housing, social services, financial and emergency assistance for over 20 per cent of the world’s refugees. It runs over 700 elementary and preparatory gender-balanced schools that teach more than half a million girls and boys – with a focus on education for peace, human rights and tolerance. It also provides technical vocational training and higher education for over 7,700 students, and offers scholarships that give young Palestine refugees the chance to attend university. This really is value for money.

And second, have we, as an international community, done enough to honour the spirit of past General Assembly resolutions, in which we established UNRWA to provide for Palestine refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria pending a comprehensive, just and peaceful solution on the basis of international law and agreements, and, of course, relevant United Nations resolutions?

Excellencies,

This is not a matter of charity. This is about responsibility, about upholding human dignity and human rights. This is about keeping the promise we made through the 2030 Agenda – to leave no one behind. This is about solidarity with our Palestinian sisters and brothers.

I could give you many more reasons. In fact, two of them are sitting in this hall: Hanan Abu Asbeh and Hatem Hamdouna, two talented 14-year-olds – from the West Bank and Gaza respectively – who were elected to represent 526,000 UNRWA students in the Agency-wide Student Parliament, and who both, I understand, love poetry, as do I.

And then there is Noor, the mathematics whiz who lives in the Balata refugee camp; and Khalil in Lebanon, who is determined that his visual impairment will not stand in the way of his dreams.

But I am sure, Excellencies, that I do not need to convince you of the value of UNRWA’s work. Your presence here today sends a powerful message that you care, and that you are willing to act. I will now give the floor to the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, and I look forward to hearing your generous pledges to ensure that UNRWA can carry on its vital work.

Let me only close by quoting another UNRWA student, 15-year-old Jameela, who won the 2019 Inspirational Messages of Peace Contest:

 “Why don’t we leave aside malice, animosity and hate?

And search for love inside our hearts before it’s too late.”

I thank you.