Human settlements development in the OPT – 19th session UN-Habitat Governing Council – Decision

UN-HABITAT

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

19th Session of the Governing Council, 5 – 9 May 2003, Nairobi, Kenya

8th meeting

9 May 2003

19/18. Human settlements development in the occupied Palestinian territories 

The Governing Council,

Recalling its several resolutions regarding the global development of human settlements, particularly the consolidation of the efforts of the international community and its organizations to provide adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world as elaborated in the Habitat Agenda, and recalling relevant resolutions of the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements,

Recognizing the need for continued cooperation among member states within the spirit of the Declaration on Cities and other Human Settlements in the New Millennium to achieve practical programmes that enhance sustainable shelter development goals,

Conscious of the special housing and human settlements needs of the Palestinian people and recognizing that they fall within the technical mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT),

Recognizing that shelter and human settlements are key elements in reaching a peaceful and sustainable peace in the Middle East,

Expressing the hope that the Israelis and the Palestinians will renew efforts to jointly develop a human settlements programme for the Palestinian people,

Noting with appreciation the report of the Executive Director on the housing situation and needs assessment in the occupied Palestinian Territories33 ,

1. Endorses the establishment of the Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian people and the Technical Cooperation Trust Fund of $5 million for an initial period of two years, as proposed by the Executive Director in her report;

2. Urges the international donor community and all financial institutions to support UN-HABITAT in the immediate mobilization of financial resources towards the establishment and operation of the programme and the fund;

3. Requests the Executive Director to report to it at its twentieth session on progress in the operations of the Special Human Settlements Programme, including progress in the mobilization of financial resources for the Technical Cooperation Trust Fund.