Proposed programme budget for 2025: section 26, Palestine refugees – General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/79/256)

24 December 2024

Seventy-ninth session

Agenda item 139

Proposed programme budget for 2025

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 24 December 2024

[on the report of the Fifth Committee (A/79/652, para. 58)]

79/256. Proposed programme budget for 2025: section 26, Palestine refugees

The General Assembly

1. Recalls its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance, protection and essential services to Palestine refugees, highlighting the vital role that the Agency plays in providing education, healthcare, relief and social services and emergency assistance to Palestine refugees in all five fields of operation, including in particular in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and affirms that no organization can replace or substitute the Agency’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestine refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance;
2. Reaffirms the essential mandate of the Agency, as set forth in resolution 302 (IV), and underscores the responsibility of the international community to support the Agency in enabling the continuity of its indispensable operations in all five fields of operation, recognizing that any interruption or suspension of its work would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestine refugees who depend on the Agency’s services, with further implications for the region;
3. Expresses deep concern over recent legislative actions that aim to obstruct the Agency’s operations, which significantly hinder the Agency’s ability to fulfil its mandate, and recalls in this regard General Assembly resolution ES-10/25 of 11 December 2024;
4. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Agency staff and all acts of violence against civilians, including all acts of terror and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction, and appreciates the work of the Agency’s staff, including in dire circumstances, in fulfilment of the Agency’s mandate;
5. Extends condolences to the Agency for the loss of its staff members, which stands at 254 as of 8 December 2024, highlighting the continuous disregard and endangerment of the lives of United Nations staff in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;
6. Condemns in the strongest terms the destruction of installations, facilities and vehicles under the United Nations flag and bearing the United Nations emblem, including Agency schools sheltering displaced civilians;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to explore all possible measures to enhance and strengthen the Agency’s operational security, especially in conflict zones, and to ensure sufficient, predictable and sustained funding to the Agency, and to report on progress to the General Assembly at its eightieth session;
8. Recalls paragraph VI.103 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,^[1] expresses concern at the continuous reduction of voluntary contributions and emphasizes the importance of responsible and committed voluntary contributions to the Agency, and calls upon Member States and other donors to increase their voluntary contributions to the Agency to ensure its ability to fulfil its mandate effectively and achieve sustainable and consistent levels of voluntary funding.

55th (resumed) plenary meeting

24 December 2024

      [1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-ninth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/79/7).