{"id":115287,"date":"2017-09-29T16:10:21","date_gmt":"2017-09-29T16:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=115287"},"modified":"2017-10-16T14:12:30","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T14:12:30","slug":"strong-diplomatic-and-donor-support-for-unrwa-at-the-ministerial-level-meeting-hosted-by-the-oic-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/strong-diplomatic-and-donor-support-for-unrwa-at-the-ministerial-level-meeting-hosted-by-the-oic-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Strong Diplomatic and Donor Support for UNRWA at the Ministerial-level Meeting Hosted by the OIC in New York"},"content":{"rendered":"
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29 September 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Arabic: \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a\u0629 <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"RahafRahaf (left), a sixteen-year-old Palestine refugee from Jordan and a previous member of the UNRWA Central School Parliament of Jordan, and Karim, a thirteen-year-old Palestine refugee from Gaza and the current President of the UNRWA Central School Parliament of the Gaza Strip, share their experiences with journalists during a press conference held on the margins of the General Assembly’s annual general debate. UN Photo\/Ariana Lindquist<\/h6>\n
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There was strong diplomatic and donor support for UNRWA and its mandate at the Ministerial-level meeting which took place in New York during the General Assembly on 22 September. The meeting, entitled \u201cGiving Hope to Palestine Refugees\u201d, was hosted by the OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, and co-hosted by the Foreign Minister of Sweden H.E Margot Wallstr\u00f6m and the Foreign Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan H.E Ayman Al-Safadi. United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, addressed an important video message to participants.<\/p>\n

The OIC meeting came six months after an unprecedented consultation of the Member States and a landmark report by the United Nations Secretary-General on placing UNRWA on a sustainable and predictable financial footing. It strongly confirmed support for UNRWA\u2019s mandate and role, and it explicitly supported proposals to stabilize UNRWA\u2019s long-term financial situation, with a focus on new avenues of partnership with the World Bank through a specific Trust Fund and the Islamic Development Bank through a distinct Waqf for Palestine refugees.<\/p>\n

In addition, the OIC\u2019s sponsorship of the event marked an important positive development in its relationship with UNRWA, following the strong support the OIC expressed for the Agency at its last Ministerial meeting in Abidjan.
\nOn the 2017 shortfall, several delegations announced additional contributions, reducing UNRWA\u2019s operational budget shortfall from US$126.5 million\u00a0to US$77.5 million.<\/p>\n

UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Kr\u00e4henb\u00fchl, told delegates that the meeting and their presence there was \u201ca powerful vote of confidence in the mandate of UNRWA and what many member states have called the Agency\u2019s \u201cindispensable role\u201d in protecting the rights and dignity of Palestine Refugees, and providing crucial services to them\u201d.<\/p>\n

UNRWA expresses its deep recognition to the OIC,\u00a0Jordan\u00a0and Sweden for this important initiative and its appreciation to the donors who have come forward with generous additional support.
\nOne of the high points of the event was the address by Karim, a thirteen-year-old and the current President of UNRWA\u2019s Central School Parliament of the Gaza Strip, and Rahaf, a sixteen-year-old from Jordan and a previous member of the UNRWA Central School Parliament of Jordan.<\/p>\n

Karim told delegates that his presence at the meeting was no coincidence. \u201cI was elected to be the President of the UNRWA Central Student Parliament of Gaza\u201d, he said. \u201cI represent 270\u2019000 students\u201d and \u201cyou must hear our voices\u201d.<\/p>\n

Rahaf stressed the potential contribution of her generation: \u201cWe are victims of a historic injustice and we know it. But we do not want the world to see us only as victims. We want the world to see our passion, our skills and our deep desire to participate and contribute. We want our rights to be respected\u201d.<\/p>\n

Reinforcing the messages of the two students, Mr. Kr\u00e4henb\u00fchl emphasized \u201cthe responsibility towards Palestine refugee youth\u201d. He said \u201cwhile they remain refugees pending a just and durable solution, they are citizens of the world as we all are\u201d; and he called for all to \u201cmatch the courage the students show every day\u201d and for delegates \u201cto live up to their hopes and expectations\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION<\/h2>\n
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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\u2019s Programme Budget. UNRWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For more information, please contact:<\/h2>\n
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Christopher Gunness<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mobile:<\/div>\n
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+972 (0)54 240 2659<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Office:<\/div>\n
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+972 (0)2 589 0267<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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c.gunness@unrwa.org<\/a><\/div>\n
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Sami Mshasha<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mobile:<\/div>\n
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+972 (0)54 216 8295<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Office:<\/div>\n
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+972 (0)258 90724<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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s.mshasha@unrwa.org<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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