11 June 2017

Arabic: العربية

Statement by  UNRWA Spokesperson Christopher Gunness

We have seen summaries in the media around issues relating to UNRWA’s mandate and our position is clear and unchanged. UNRWA receives its mandate from the UN General Assembly; and only the UN General Assembly, by a majority vote, can change our mandate. In December 2016, UNRWA’s mandate was extended for 3 years by the General Assembly by a large majority. The situation of Palestine Refugees needs to be resolved as part of a political resolution of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.  It is time for political action to resolve this long-standing crisis.

Background Information

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness
Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications
Mobile:
+972 (0)54 240 2659
Office:
+972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org
Sami Mshasha
Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson
Mobile:
+972 (0)54 216 8295
Office:
+972 (0)258 90724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org

 


Document Type: Arabic text, Statement, Text
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Assistance, Education and culture, Negotiations and agreements, Peace process, Refugees and displaced persons, Statehood-related
Publication Date: 11/06/2017
URL source: https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/it-time-political-action-resolve-long-standing-crisis-statement