UNRWA on Agenda as Fourth Committee Holds Virtual Meeting – Press Release (GA/SPD/716) (Excerpts)

GA/SPD/716
12 OCTOBER 2020

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United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

PHILIPPE LAZZARINI, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), introduced his annual report (document A/75/13), stressing that, six months into his tenure and into the coronavirus pandemic, the Agency’s priority remains to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring that its critical services continue uninterrupted.  He emphasized:  “The agility and ability of UNRWA to adjust the way it operates in response to COVID-19 almost overnight truly impressed me:  UNRWA staff shifted to telemedicine, to home delivery of emergency food and medicine, and to distance learning.”

He went on to report that the total number of Palestine refugees infected has surged from fewer than 200 cases in July to more than 10,000 last week.  Beyond the health crisis, COVID-19 is also unleashing a brutal pandemic of abject poverty that is making Palestine refugees feel hopeless, he noted, warning:  “Despair is a threat to peace and stability.”  Addressing this requires a predictable and stable UNRWA that contributes to a sense of normality, if only through the consistent delivery of critical services, he stressed.  Health and education are fundamental human rights and basic pillars of a dignified life, he added, describing them as being amongst UNRWA’s flagship programmes.  However, rising poverty is leading a growing number of refugees to rely solely on the Agency’s services, he said, underlining that maintaining quality services requires adequate resources.

Describing the core programme budget as the Agency’s backbone, he reported that its funding gap today is $130 million.  UNRWA is appealing for support for its COVID-19 response, he said, adding that it also needs $40 million to sustain its humanitarian operations, including food and cash assistance for more than 1.4 million conflict-affected refugees coming from Syria or living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  Today, $15 million of that amount is urgently required to sustain the food pipeline in Gaza for more than 1 million refugees, he said, adding that his priority now is to raise the necessary funds to sustain all our essential services.

Failing to raise the necessary funds will impact both the salaries of 28,000 staff and the delivery of critical services, including the schooling of more than half a million girls and boys, he continued.  “Such a situation will force me to revert back to you for advice on which parts of the UNRWA mandate to prioritize.”  The Agency’s programme budget expenditures are predictable, but funding has constantly been unpredictable, with no visibility beyond a few weeks, he noted, emphasizing:  “This is unsustainable.”  Unpredictable funding results in constant cash‑flow crises and structural underfunding, he said, urging agreement among Member States to provide the level of resources required to support full implementation of the UNRWA mandate and to increase the predictability of resources through multi-year financing.  He said that, in turn, he is committed to developing and submitting a longer-term strategy for the Agency, with a multi-year budget.

Israel’s representative said that UNRWA perpetuates the Israel-Palestinians conflict by inflating the number of Palestine refugees and inciting violence, hatred and anti-Semitism through education.  Peace between the two sides is possible, but there must be reconciliation and mutual recognition of existence, he emphasized, describing the denial of Israel’s right to exist as an obstacle to a solution.  Hamas uses UNRWA’s school facilities to launch rockets, underground tunnels are found on school premises, and history textbooks teach hatred and anti‑Semitism, he added, asking the Commissioner-General how to ensure that school infrastructure is not used for such purposes.  How does the Agency vet educational content?, he asked.

An observer for the State of Palestine said UNRWA makes tangible contributions towards ending the conflict, rejecting Israel’s claim that the Agency perpetuates the conflict.  Expressing appreciation to UNRWA staff for continuing to deliver essential services to the 5.6 million registered refugees, she said that, despite restrictions due to COVID-19, the Agency has adjusted its responses and continued its operations, “a commendable feat”.  Many recognize UNRWA’s delivery of humanitarian services as exemplary, she added.  Citing the considerable funding gap and regional volatility, she asked the Commissioner‑General how to ensure the well-being of Palestinians and address the sense of despair and abandonment among their youth.  She also asked whether the Agency seeks a larger share of the United Nations budget for more predictable funding.

The European Union’s representative noted that the bloc is the largest contributor to UNRWA, shouldering 60 per cent of its total budget, and will remain a staunch supporter, both politically and financially.  He called upon all donors to make multi-year pledges.

Mr. LAZZARINI said he has been in the humanitarian and development business for 30 years, but has never seen an organization that invests in neutrality and impartiality as much as UNRWA.  It is probably the most scrutinized agency and therefore is on the edge of the curve in providing aid.  He went on to emphasize that there is “absolutely no space in our schools” for hatred, intolerance and anti-Semitism.  Assessment of textbooks is under way, with the help of the European Union, he said, adding that he looks forward to recommendations.  UNRWA is probably the only organization that has dedicated neutrality officers, he said, noting the Agency’s positive contributions to the broader stability of the region.  It is struggling to make ends meet, he said, asking donors to step up.  No Palestine refugees want to remain refugees, he added.

Norway’s representative, speaking in her capacity as Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, said the pandemic and the resulting global economic downturn have exacerbated the Agency’s financial instability, citing the $200 million budget shortfall.  She went on to call upon the international community to ensure that UNRWA can continue to meet the growing needs of the refugee population and upon all States to increase and sustain voluntary contributions to fully fund the Agency’s programme budget.  Contributions should reflect appropriate international burden-sharing and should be disbursed early in the year, she emphasized.

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For information media. Not an official record.