Assistance to the Palestinian people – Sec Gen – report )

ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

Report of the Secretary-General

Addendum

Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)

1. Upon ECWA's return to Beirut in July 1977, contacts were resumed with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the purpose of identifying the needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with the provisions of resolutions 2026 (LXl) and 2100 (LXIIl) of the Economic and Social Council.  Consultations with the PLO have resulted in the tentative proposal to establish within the Organization an ad hoc economic unit to prepare concrete projects, in co-operation with the various [organizations within the United Nations system. To help the PLO identify the immediate needs of the Palestinian people, ECWA is considering the possibility of engaging the services of a consultant to conduct a grass-root survey of the major community concentrations of the Palestinians. Contacts were also maintained with UNDP and the various specialized agencies and organizations concerned.

2. It will be recalled that, apart from tho two Council resolutions, ECWA has adopted its own resolutions for the assistance of the Palestinians, and ECWA's 'activities in the implementation of these resolutions have been inter-linked with its contribution towards the identification of the needs of the Palestinians.  For example, in the implementation of ECWA resolution 27 (III), which provided for a study to be. made of the economic and social potentials of the entire Palestinian people, steps have been taken to initiate studying the present conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. The study will attempt to identify topics that require in-depth research, including such areas as labour force, industry, agriculture, municipal administration and infrastructure. Another component of the project that is presently being conducted is the study of the demographic situation of the Palestinian people, which includes analysis of the geographical distribution, age and sex structure, demographic growth, international migration flows and probable future trends.

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