UNRWA’s newly expanded Advisory Commission holds its first meeting in Amman – UNRWA press release

UNRWA’s newly expanded Advisory Commission holds its first meeting in Amman

Amman: The first session of UNRWA’s expanded Advisory Commission concluded in Amman today. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Rana Al-Mokadem, head of Palestine department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon.

In her opening remarks, the Commissioner General of UNRWA Karen AbuZayd welcomed the participants and briefed the delegates about recent developments in the Agency’s areas of operations. AbuZayd reviewed the Agency’s management reform process, the status of funding to the general fund and emergency appeal, and the challenges facing the Agency in the oPt. “The overall security situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated further, and the situation as regards freedom of movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has worsened”, AbuZayd told the delegates.

Referring to speculations about continuation of assistance following the Palestinian elections, the Commissioner General emphasized that “UNRWA will continue to provide all the services under its mandate, in full and on time, for as long as the political and financial support of the international community is forthcoming, and security conditions allow”.

During this organizational session, the Advisory Commission approved the rules of procedure and programme of work for the revitalized Advisory Commission, which is to enhance significantly its role in advising and assisting the Commissioner–General.

The Advisory Commission was established under the same General Assembly resolution as UNRWA itself, 302(IV) of 8 December 1949 to advise and assist the Commissioner-General of UNRWA in the execution of the programme. On 9 November 2005, the General Assembly approved an increase in the membership of the Advisory Commission to include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland whose contributions to the Agency have exceeded an annual average of $5 millions over the past three years. The General Assembly also invited Palestine to attend and fully participate in the meetings as an observer, and invited the European Community, and the League of Arab States to attend as observers.

In her concluding statements, Karen AbuZayd expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by participants in reaching agreement on the rules, regulations and the work plan for the Advisory Commission and looked forward to interacting with the Advisory Commission in the future.

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In Amman Matar Saqer at (+962-79-5605553)