Assistance to the Palestinian people – Joint UNDP/UNFPA projects, recommendations

Executive Board of

the United Nations

Development Programme

and of the United Nations

Population Fund

REPORT ON THE THIRD REGULAR SESSION

NEW YORK, 9-13 SEPTEMBER 1996

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XII.  UNFPA:  COUNTRY PROGRAMMES AND RELATED MATTERS

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C.  Arab States and Europe

Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (DP/FPA/CP/157)

218. In her introduction to the proposed Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, the Director of the Division for Arab States and Europe said that this first UNFPA programme would focus on two major concerns:  the lack of reliable demographic data and the limited access that women had to quality reproductive health services.  To assist in those areas, UNFPA would provide support for the first census in 30 years and would help to strengthen reproductive health services in primary health care centres, in collaboration with other donors.  The Fund would also cooperate with the Palestinian Authority in carrying out advocacy activities addressing gender concerns.

219. Several delegations expressed support for the first UNFPA Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People.  The Counsellor of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations thanked the Fund for the first Programme of Assistance.  It would help the Palestinian people realize their goals in terms of population and in improving conditions of reproductive health.  In particular, the assistance being proposed for carrying out the much-needed census would be of great value.  He also thanked the Deputy Executive Director for amending the title and text of the proposed programme to make clear that it was being proposed for "The Palestinian people" and requested that such wording be reflected throughout the document.

220. The Executive Board approved the proposed programme of assistance for the Palestinian People as presented in document DP/FPA/CP/157 in the amount of $7.2 million over the four-year period 1996-1999.

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