{"id":167107,"date":"2018-11-09T14:22:22","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T14:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=167107"},"modified":"2021-11-11T13:34:50","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T18:34:50","slug":"unrwa-faces-greatest-financial-crisis-in-its-history-following-2018-funding-cuts-commissioner%e2%80%91general-tells-fourth-committee-press-release","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/unrwa-faces-greatest-financial-crisis-in-its-history-following-2018-funding-cuts-commissioner%e2%80%91general-tells-fourth-committee-press-release\/","title":{"rendered":"UNRWA Faces Greatest Financial Crisis in Its History Following 2018 Funding Cuts, Commissioner\u2011General Tells Fourth Committee – Press Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOURTH COMMITTEE<\/strong>
\nSEVENTY-THIRD SESSION,<\/span>\u00a024TH MEETING (PM)<\/span><\/strong>
\nGA\/SPD\/684<\/strong>
\n9 NOVEMBER 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

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fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) faces the greatest financial predicament in its history this year following the abrupt end to funding by the United States, its Commissioner\u2011General told the Fourth Committee\u00a0(Special Political and Decolonization) today.<\/p>\n

As the Committee began its consideration of that Agency\u2019s work, Commissioner\u2011General Pierre Kr\u00e4henb\u00fchl said that, because of support from Member States, UNRWA is now on a path to overcoming that crisis.\u00a0 Reporting that $300\u00a0million in funding was cut in January following the decision by the United States, he said the resulting shortfall threatens general education for 525,000\u00a0students, essential primary health care for 3\u00a0million patients and food assistance for 1.7\u00a0million refugees.<\/p>\n

In response, he continued, UNRWA launched a global campaign, #DignityIsPriceless.\u00a0 Citing two ministerial meetings as critical to mobilizing support, he said the $100\u00a0million was pledged in Rome on 15\u00a0March and $122\u00a0million in New York on 27\u00a0September.\u00a0 Overall, donors contributed or pledged an additional $382\u00a0million in\u00a02018, reducing the shortfall to $64\u00a0million, he said.\u00a0 Reporting that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have raised $50\u00a0million each \u2014 accounting for 50\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the additional amount pledged \u2014 he noted that 40\u00a0other countries and institutions from every region have also raised their contributions.<\/p>\n

Turning to assertions made about Palestine refugees \u2014 including accusations that UNRWA is inflating their numbers \u2014 he described such allegations as blatant misrepresentations.\u00a0 \u201cChildren born to refugees, and their descendants, are recognized as refugees by both UNRWA and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees\u00a0(UNHCR) under their respective mandates,\u201d he pointed out.\u00a0 He went on to cite the situations in Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Congo, where the descendants of those displaced are recognized as refugees and receive assistance from UNHCR.<\/p>\n

Presenting the report of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA was that panel\u2019s Rapporteur.<\/p>\n

The observer for the State of Palestine echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that Palestine refugees are not the exception to the rule applied to other protracted refugee situations around the world.\u00a0 \u201cWe reject rhetoric aimed at redefining who constitutes a Palestine refugee in an attempt to strip our refugees of their status and rights,\u201d she said, emphasizing that those rights do not diminish with time.\u00a0 She noted that cost\u2011cutting measures and concerns prompted by the United States funding cut have stirred deep worry among refugees, stoking fears that the international community is abandoning them.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s representative, however, said UNRWA\u2019s budgetary needs will grow, describing its business model as \u201cirredeemably flawed\u201d.\u00a0 Moreover, Palestinians are refusing, through the Agency, to accept the Jewish right to self\u2011determination under the guise of the right of return, he said, noting that UNRWA refugees enjoy a special status that is automatically passed down to future generations.\u00a0 No other refugee population in the world has a similar dedicated agency, he said, emphasizing that the vast majority of UNRWA beneficiaries do not meet the criteria for refugee status under international law.<\/p>\n

Also speaking today were representatives of Venezuela\u00a0(for the Non-Aligned Movement), Bangladesh\u00a0(for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Cuba, Qatar, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Namibia.<\/p>\n

An observer for the European Union delegation also delivered a statement.<\/p>\n

Speaking in exercise of the right of reply were a representative of Israel and an observer for the State of Palestine.<\/p>\n

The Fourth Committee will reconvene at 10\u00a0a.m. on Monday, 12\u00a0November, to conclude its general debate on the work of UNRWA.<\/p>\n

Introductory Statements<\/u><\/p>\n

PIERRE KR\u00c4HENB\u00dcHL, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA), said that, because of support from Member States, \u201cwe are on a path to overcoming the greatest financial predicament ever in the history of this Agency\u201d.\u00a0 Stressing the importance of UNRWA\u2019s services, he said there is no alternative to its school system in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 He went on to note that the demolition of the West Bank Bedouin hamlet of Khan al\u2011Ahmar is imminent, and access to the essentials of life precarious and insecure.\u00a0 In Syria, six students were killed by mortar and gunfire in\u00a02018, and in Lebanon, refugees remain cut off from Government services and formal employment.<\/p>\n

Turning to the Agency\u2019s financial crisis, he reported that $300\u00a0million in funding was cut in January following an abrupt decision by the United States, which has since announced that it will not contribute any funds as of\u00a02019.\u00a0 The resulting financial crisis has been unprecedented, he said, citing a mid-January shortfall of $446\u00a0million, equivalent to 40\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the Agency\u2019s operating income.\u00a0 It threatened general education for 525,000\u00a0students, essential primary health care for 3\u00a0million patients and food assistance for 1.7\u00a0million refugees who fled complex emergencies, including Syria.<\/p>\n

In response, UNRWA launched a global campaign, #DignityIsPriceless, encouraging a renewed spirit of multilateral cooperation, he continued.\u00a0 Citing two ministerial meetings as critical to mobilizing support, he said $100\u00a0million was pledged in Rome on 15\u00a0March and $122\u00a0million in New York on 27\u00a0September.\u00a0 Overall, donors contributed or pledged an additional $382\u00a0million in\u00a02018, reducing the shortfall to $64\u00a0million, he said, expressing hope that it will be further reduced after additional contributions.\u00a0 Reporting that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have raised $50\u00a0million each, accounting for 50\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the additional amount pledged, he noted that 40\u00a0countries and institutions from every region have increased their contributions.<\/p>\n

On the Agency\u2019s efficiency and financial discipline, he recalled the rigid cost controls applied to its 2018\u00a0budget, the enforcement of UNRWA\u2011wide austerity during the 2015\u20112017\u00a0period and the avoidance of service cuts.\u00a0 Regarding assertions about Palestine refugees in the media and certain political forums \u2014 including accusations that UNRWA is inflating the number of refugees it serves \u2014 he described them as blatant misrepresentations, pointing out:\u00a0 \u201cChildren born to refugees, and their descendants, are recognized as refugees by both UNRWA and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees\u00a0(UNHCR) under their respective mandates.\u201d\u00a0 He went on to cite the situations in Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Congo, where the descendants of those displaced were recognized as refugees and received assistance from UNHCR.\u00a0 That Office has a mandate to seek solutions while UNRWA does not, he pointed out, emphasizing:\u00a0 \u201cThe preferred solution for all refugees under international law is voluntary return, in safety and dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interactive Dialogue<\/u><\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Indonesia<\/u>\u00a0wondered what impact the war in Syria is having on the population of Palestinian refugees there.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Sudan<\/u>\u00a0asked what the Commissioner\u2011General anticipates for the next two years in terms of donor support, and what cooperation the Agency enjoys with other regional organizations like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u00a0(OIC), the European Union and the League of Arab States.\u00a0 Finally, he asked if there exists an education alternative for UNRWA, suggesting the Agency provide scholarships for the refugees in neighbouring countries and offering Sudanese universities and schools for that purpose.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0highlighted the importance of the Agency\u2019s youth initiatives and sought elaboration of its current and future projects for Palestinian youth.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0said the Palestinian population that UNRWA serves does not meet the criteria for refugee status under international law.\u00a0 Noting that 2.2\u00a0million are citizens of Jordan and 2.1\u00a0million live in Gaza and the West Bank, he said they have never crossed an international border.\u00a0 He also pointed out that UNRWA\u2019s mandate permits it to define descendants as refugees, describing that as a political decision behind the spike in the Agency\u2019s financial needs.\u00a0 He asked why UNRWA inflates the number of refugees in the region and how it functions in Gaza, where so many terrorist organizations, including UNRWA officials, are active.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Syria<\/u>\u00a0said that UNRWA\u2019s reports continue to neglect the role of the Government of Syrian in humanitarian efforts for Palestine refugees.\u00a0 Noting that his country\u2019s Government has treated them equally and generously, he said violence against the Palestinians has been perpetrated by armed terrorist groups who have attacked refugee camps in Syria.\u00a0 UNRWA must indicate in its reports that the shortage of financing has had a negative impact on refugees, he said, calling on donors to increase their contributions to UNRWA\u2019s budget so the Agency can rebuild the refugee camps.\u00a0 Furthermore, the Agency\u2019s report neglects to mention the Government of Syria developed 57\u00a0public schools for UNRWA, he said.<\/p>\n

Mr.\u00a0KR\u00c4HENB\u00dcHL, Commissioner\u2011General, responding to Indonesia\u2019s delegate, said that before the conflict in Syria began, thousands of refugees lived there, covering most of their needs themselves.\u00a0 The war transformed that situation in painful ways that deeply affected the Palestine refugee population.\u00a0 Noting that 430,000\u00a0refugees remain in Syria today, he said many have fled to other countries.\u00a0 Several camps have been affected and their future is uncertain, he said, noting that UNRWA lost 18\u00a0colleagues in the Syrian conflict and 25\u00a0are still missing.\u00a0 Palestine refugees fleeing the conflict were integrated into the Agency\u2019s service delivery apparatus in Lebanon and Jordan.<\/p>\n

In response to Sudan\u2019s representative, he noted that the situation of Palestine refugees is particularly precarious in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 More than 90\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the children in schools there have never left the enclave.\u00a0 As a result, professional engagement or contact is no longer taking place among Palestinians in the enclave and young Israelis, he said, calling for investment in efforts to allow each community to rediscover the other\u2019s humanity.\u00a0 Turning to the recent mobilization of support for funding, he noted the geographic diversity of that support.\u00a0 On the question of scholarships, he said UNRWA is prepared to work with the Palestinian Authority in seeking opportunities for the higher education of young people in the region and beyond.<\/p>\n

Responding to the observer for the State of Palestine, he noted the investments made to protect the education system despite concerns over the growing number of children per classroom.\u00a0 On student parliaments, he said they are significant in terms of youth involvement and community engagement.<\/p>\n

Turning to Israel and the different interpretations of refugee issues, he reiterated that UNRWA\u2019s actions in relation to its mandate are defined by the General Assembly.\u00a0 As such, the definitions that the Agency uses for refugees and the ways in which it has registered them have all been defined and validated by that body.\u00a0 Refugee situations are resolved in the context of political resolution of conflict, he said, pointing out that the number of conflicts resolved by political means have been very limited in recent decades.<\/p>\n

Concerning Gaza, he emphasized that the principle of neutrality must be safeguarded.\u00a0 Recalling that nine international UNRWA staff members out of 12,500\u00a0were temporarily withdrawn from Gaza, he said that was due to demonstrations by Palestinian staff members unhappy about losing their jobs.\u00a0 He explained that the 118\u00a0staff members who lost their jobs protested vigorously because unemployment in Gaza has now reached 50\u00a0per\u00a0cent.\u00a0 He said that, while he deeply disagrees with their protest methods, he understands what unemployment means for their families, who risk imprisonment for defaulting on loans.\u00a0 He said nine staff members were withdrawn to send a message to Hamas about providing security, after which things began to change, he recalled.<\/p>\n

In response to Syria\u2019s delegate, he said the Agency recognizes that country\u2019s historical role in welcoming and supporting Palestine refugees.\u00a0 Noting that half of the Agency\u2019s school buildings in Syria have been damaged or cannot be used, he said that if conditions in Yarmouk permit, UNRWA will consider rehabilitating its installations in that camp and the possibility of Palestine refugees returning there.<\/p>\n

Introductory Remarks<\/u><\/p>\n

KJETIL J. HALVORSEN\u00a0(Norway), Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, introduced that panel\u2019s report\u00a0(document\u00a0A\/73\/349<\/a>), noting that it met six times before adopting its report.\u00a0 Noting the Agency\u2019s unprecedented financial shortfall, he said that its 2018\u00a0programme budget stands at $64\u00a0million.\u00a0 The shortfall threatens the human development of Palestine refugees and the region\u2019s stability, he emphasized.\u00a0 He urged Governments to increase and sustain their voluntary contributions to the Agency through its three funding portals so that it can meet the growing needs of the Palestine refugee population, taking into account the effects of inflation and other factors driving the cost of providing services.\u00a0 Taking note of UNRWA\u2019s efforts to contain costs, he encouraged Member States to accompany those measures with adequate funding for the Agency as it continues to serve more than 5\u00a0million Palestine refugees in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

General Debate<\/u><\/p>\n

FEDA ABDELHADY\u2011NASSER, observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said UNRWA has been in crisis mode for a year, forced to contend with an unprecedented financial shortfall of $446\u00a0million that jeopardizes its essential services and causes widespread distress among refugees.\u00a0 \u201cWe reject rhetoric aimed at redefining who constitutes a Palestine refugee in an attempt to strip our refugees of their status and rights,\u201d she said, emphasizing that those rights do not diminish with time.\u00a0 The right to return is not a claim, but a right which cannot be negated to accommodate Israel\u2019s narrative and its schemes to ensure a Jewish majority, she added.\u00a0 Under international law, children of refugees and their descendants are also considered refugees until a durable solution is found, she pointed out.\u00a0 Palestine refugees are not the exception to that rule applied to other protracted refugee situations around the world, she said, underlining that the Palestine refugee problem persists because of the failure to address the conflict\u2019s root causes and justly to resolve the question of Palestine<\/p>\n

She went on to describe claims that UNRWA perpetuates the refugee problem as absurd and offensive, calling for the denunciation of any attempts to discredit the Agency.\u00a0 Expressing gratitude for the high\u2011level meetings convened to remedy UNRWA\u2019s financial crisis and to the donors who responded, she said that display of compassion and responsibility has helped to ensure the continuity of the Agency\u2019s vital programmes.\u00a0 The forced displacement and dispossession of Palestine refugees by Israel, the occupying Power, has also inflicted a critical loss of hope, she observed.\u00a0 That is most damaging for young people, for whom the absence of a political horizon and the lack of opportunity have diminished belief in the possibilities of peace, making them more vulnerable to the forces of radicalism and extremism.\u00a0 Any interruption or suspension of UNRWA services will seriously exacerbate refugee hardships and destabilize the fragile situation on the ground, she warned, pointing out that cost\u2011cutting measures and concerns prompted by the United States funding cut have stirred deep worry among refugees, stoking fears that the international community is abandoning them.<\/p>\n

Such anxiety has been particularly severe in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and most acute in Gaza, as reflected in the protests and strikes to mark the Great March of Return, she continued.\u00a0 UNRWA remains a lifeline for refugee families in the enclave and elsewhere, especially for the Bedouin community currently at risk of another forced transfer.\u00a0 It also remains critical for Palestine refugees in Syria and Lebanon, ensuring their basic sustenance and protection.\u00a0 Expressing regret over the politicization of the Agency\u2019s humanitarian work by the United States and Israel, she called for concerted action in response to the current challenges.\u00a0 She also called for further efforts to address UNRWA\u2019s recurrent financial shortfall and generate sufficient and predictable funding to ensure implementation of its mandate.\u00a0 In that context, she appealed for increased and more sustained voluntary contributions, including multi\u2011year funding, if possible, also urging support for UNRWA\u2019s efforts to expand and diversify its donor base.\u00a0 As such, she called for further engagement to bring the World Bank Trust Fund and OIC\u2019s Waqf Fund to fruition.<\/p>\n

SAMUEL MONCADA\u00a0(Venezuela<\/u>), speaking on behalf of the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, said the Government of the United States took an unjust step when it cut funding for the Agency.\u00a0 He also expressed concern over Israel\u2019s announcement that it intends to close UNRWA centres in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 The deteriorating situation in the region, including Syria, has intensified the needs of Palestine refugees, he said, adding that the Movement is deeply concerned about Israeli practices in the occupied territories, including forced displacement, generalized violence and the demolition of Palestinian homes.<\/p>\n

He went on to point out that the blockade in Gaza has inflicted terrible suffering on the Palestinian people, depriving them of basic requirements, humanitarian assistance and preventing the reconstruction of housing.\u00a0 Lifting the blockade will be the only way for Palestine refugees to become less reliant on UNRWA, he said, calling on upon Israel to uphold its responsibilities under international law.\u00a0 He went on to note the General Assembly\u2019s inability to follow up the Secretary\u2011General\u2019s recommendations on the provision of adequate financing for UNRWA.<\/p>\n

MASUD BIN MOMEN\u00a0(Bangladesh<\/u>), speaking on behalf of OIC, reaffirmed the necessity of upholding the moral, political and legal commitment to the rights of Palestine refugees and to the alleviation of their suffering, pending a just solution.\u00a0 Millions of them continue to endure forced displacement, exile and denial of their legitimate rights as a result of the ongoing Israeli colonial occupation and the failure to achieve a just and lasting solution.\u00a0 Their plight risks worsening as UNRWA experiences an unprecedented funding crisis, exacerbated by the United States decision to cut its contributions, thereby jeopardizing the Agency\u2019s essential education, health, relief, social and emergency programmes.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s meeting is timely and must send a message of hope and political commitment to the rights of Palestine refugees, so to ensure their concerns are receiving attention in this time of humanitarian crises, he continued.\u00a0 Cooperation and joint action to share burdens and contain the growth of core costs will mitigate the suffering of the Palestine refugees.\u00a0 OIC, in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, continues the process of implementing the resolution adopted to establish a fund to support Palestinian refugees, he said, reaffirming unwavering support for the Palestinian people in the exercise of their right to return, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.<\/p>\n

PIERRE\u2011CHRISTOPHE CHATZISAVAS,\u00a0European Union<\/u>\u00a0delegation, warned that ending UNRWA\u2019s humanitarian activities could generate instability across the region and create a vacuum that will only serve extremists.\u00a0 The European Union and its member States are collectively the largest contributor to UNRWA\u2019s budget and among the first to respond to its call for additional funds, he noted.\u00a0 While acknowledging the far\u2011reaching reforms undertaken by UNRWA to counter the shortfall and contain its impact, he called upon donors to intensify their efforts to help the Agency find its financial footing while staying focused on its mandate.<\/p>\n

MAR\u00cdA ANTONIETA SOCORRO J\u00c1QUEZ HUACUJA\u00a0(Mexico<\/u>) said the absence of stability in the region poses serious consequences for the civilian population, causing a sustained increase in the number of Palestine refugees.\u00a0 UNRWA\u2019s recent funding shortfall poses further risks for that population, she said, noting that her country\u2019s Government has donated\u00a0$500,000 towards 2018\u00a0efforts in that regard.\u00a0 Reaffirming her delegation\u2019s commitment to a resolution of the Israeli\u2011Palestinian conflict, she called for the establishment of a politically and economically viable Palestinian State, and for the peaceful coexistence of two States pursuant to the relevant United Nations resolutions.<\/p>\n

ARIEL RODELAS PE\u00d1ARANDA\u00a0(Philippines<\/u>), stressing UNRWA\u2019s importance, pointed out its critical efforts in providing emergency relief, education, health care and housing to Palestine refugees.\u00a0 He confirmed his country\u2019s voluntary financial contribution of\u00a0$10,000 to the Agency\u2019s 2018\u00a0programme budget, saying it demonstrates the solidarity of the Philippines with the Palestinians.<\/p>\n

VITAVAS SRIVIHOK\u00a0(Thailand<\/u>) noted with concern that UNRWA\u2019s funding remains unpredictable and insecure.\u00a0 Noting that his country has made consistent contributions to the Agency since\u00a01978 and remains committed to its multi\u2011year pledge to provide voluntary contributions to UNRWA for the period of 2017\u20112021, he expressed hope that they will help to ensure delivery of assistance to Palestine refugees.\u00a0 Applauding UNRWA\u2019s efforts to diversify its donor base, he urged Member States to continue their support of the Agency.\u00a0 He also recalled that support for the socioeconomic development of Palestine refugees and for building the capacity of Palestinians was mobilized during the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development.<\/p>\n

HUMBERTO RIVERO ROSARIO\u00a0(Cuba<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, said it is truly surprising that despite the shortfall affecting UNRWA\u2019s operations, the Agency has continued to uphold its mandate.\u00a0 Expressing appreciation to donors, including Gulf States that stepped up their contributions to bridge the funding gap, he said it is regrettable that the main contributor to the Agency is attempting to strangle it by cutting its support.\u00a0 Noting that attempts have been made to quibble about how Palestine refugees should be counted and registered in order to break the resolve of that population, he called upon Member States to demonstrate the political will to provide adequate and sustainable funding for UNRWA, warning that the region\u2019s volatility will only increase if the refugee problem is not addressed.<\/p>\n

JASSIM SAYAR AL\u2011MAAWDA\u00a0(Qatar<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement and OIC, noted that UNRWA provides support and protection for Palestine refugees in the face of the challenges facing them.\u00a0 The number of Palestine refugees depending on the Agency has exceeded 5\u00a0million, he noted, warning that UNRWA\u2019s chronic financing gap threatens its activities and all the vital service it provides.\u00a0 Accordingly, it is critical to ensure sustained funding for the Agency, he said, also calling for increased efficiency within available resources.\u00a0 Qatar has increased its contribution to UNRWA\u2019s budget by $50\u00a0million, he reported, noting that the contribution is vital to accelerating the reopening of the Agency\u2019s schools.\u00a0 Qatar has also provided further urgent financial assistance as well as fuel to the population of Gaza.<\/p>\n

THANDEKILE TSHABALALA (South Africa<\/u>) noted that global migration crises have highlighted the plight of refugees, who are among the world\u2019s most vulnerable people.\u00a0 As such, South Africa is concerned about the cuts to UNRWA\u2019s funding, which threatens the lives of many refugees, undermining the progress towards a peace agreement and a resolution of the Israeli\u2011Palestinian conflict.\u00a0 She urged all Member States to continue honouring their commitments to support the Agency\u2019s good work, which is invaluable in ensuring the basic well\u2011being of Palestine refugees until they are eventually afforded their rights in a self-determined and viable State.<\/p>\n

ABDALLAH AL\u2011MOUALLIMI\u00a0(Saudi Arabia<\/u>) recalled that UNRWA was established by the General Assembly in\u00a01949 as a result of the Nakba, when Israel displaced the Palestinians from their lands.\u00a0 Today, 5.4\u00a0million Palestine refugees are displaced and deprived of the most basic means of dignified living, he noted.\u00a0 Their suffering increases daily because of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where the illegal blockade has increased despair and the expansion of settlements has demolished any hope for a two\u2011State solution.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Israel continues to refuse to pursue peace on the basis of justice, equality and the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own State with Jerusalem as their capital, he said.\u00a0 For its part, Saudi Arabia has provided approximately $1\u00a0billion in financial support to UNRWA, he said, pledging that it will continue to seek lasting solutions to its financial challenges.\u00a0 He called upon Member States to fulfil the Agency\u2019s needs and to increase their contributions so that it can implement its programmes, which have seen increased demand due to Israel\u2019s continued aggression.\u00a0 Saudi Arabia is also committed to addressing the root causes of the crisis, including the Israeli occupation, to seek progress towards a two\u2011State solution.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the right of return is an entitlement that will be achieved through the will of God, he said, describing the international community\u2019s weakness in pursuing that right as a disgrace.<\/p>\n

ISAAC BACHMAN\u00a0(Israel<\/u>) said that until the Palestinians can provide their people with services comparable to those of UNRWA on their own, the international community should continue to provide the humanitarian support they need.\u00a0 However, it should redirect its support into other international channels, he said, describing UNRWA as a political organization.\u00a0 The Agency uses social services to advance a maximalist political agenda and nurtures the Palestinian demand for \u201creturn\u201d to the State of Israel and its pre\u20111967 lines, he said.\u00a0 Furthermore, UNRWA refugees enjoy a special status that is automatically passed down to future generations, he noted, saying the phenomenon perpetuates and exacerbates the refugee problem.\u00a0 No other refugee population in the world has a similar dedicated agency, he noted.<\/p>\n

Reiterating that the vast majority of UNRWA beneficiaries do not meet the criteria for refugee status under international law, he went on to state that the Agency serves a growing number of beneficiaries and its budgetary needs will grow, adding that its business model is \u201cirredeemably flawed\u201d.\u00a0 Recalling the region\u2019s history, he said that while many Arab countries no longer consider Israel the enemy, Palestinians still do.\u00a0 Under the guise of the right of return, they are refusing, through UNRWA, to accept the Jewish right to self\u2011determination, he said, adding that the Agency is the lynchpin of the campaign to dismantle the Jewish State of Israel.\u00a0 Palestinian refugees should be supported by UNHCR, he said, describing the decision by the United States to freeze funding for the Agency as a wake\u2011up call for the international community.<\/p>\n

NEVILLE GERTZE\u00a0(Namibia<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, noted the monumental constraints Palestine refugees are facing due to the largest ever reduction in funding.\u00a0 Emphasizing the international community\u2019s steadfast determination to preserve and withstand the \u201chuman\u2011created onslaught\u201d, he said UNRWA is a stabilizing element in the region, rendering most essential and basic assistance to Palestine communities in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.\u00a0 Citing the Agency\u2019s efforts in education, health care and microfinance in the West Bank, he contrasted them with Israel\u2019s blockade of 11\u00a0years, saying it continues to exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.\u00a0 The Agency represents a lifeline, he said, citing the presence of 271,900\u00a0students in 275\u00a0schools and the existence of 3.8\u00a0million primary health\u2011care consultants.\u00a0 Palestine refugees displaced globally are approximately 25\u00a0per\u00a0cent of refugees around the world, he said, adding that their number will reach 6.4\u00a0million by\u00a02020.\u00a0 Deploring the funding cut by the United States of $300\u00a0million, he stressed that the plight of Palestinians should not be considered a political bargaining chip.\u00a0 Namibia welcomes the Agency\u2019s tightening of financial controls and budgetary oversight, he said, calling on the Government of Israel to cease illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories.\u00a0 \u201cAll parties should return to the negotiation table to ensure Palestinians\u2019 right to self\u2011determination and independence in an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

Right of Reply<\/u><\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>, speaking in exercise of the right of reply in response to mention of General Assembly resolution\u00a0194, he said it has no legal bearing and does not give the Palestinian people the right of return to Israel.\u00a0 Recalling that Arab countries rejected that resolution when it was adopted because it recognized the State of Israel, said the Palestinian people\u2019s ardent refusal to recognize the State of Israel is the root cause of the refugee problem.\u00a0 Recalling also that the Israelis accepted the partition plan, he said the Arabs rejected it and attacked Israel.\u00a0 As a result, the refugee problem was caused by a war they themselves initiated.\u00a0 He went on to state that the policy of allowing Palestinians to pass their refugee status on to future generations is causing the increase in refugee numbers, noting that many have never seen the home they claim to have left as refugees.\u00a0 As long as UNRWA exists under its current mandate, the refugee problem will increase and peace in the region will remain out of reach, he emphasized, adding that the Agency will always be in a budgetary crisis because of structural errors.\u00a0 While UNHCR has resettled millions of refugees since its inception, UNRWA has not, he said, adding that it will continue to feel entitled to cash flow unless the international community stops it.\u00a0 Regarding the blockade, he said Israel\u2019s restrictions on the entry of certain goods into Gaza are necessary to curb Hamas and the immense danger it poses.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, also speaking in exercise of the right of reply, pointed out that the Palestine Liberation Organization\u00a0(PLO) recognized Israel\u2019s right to exist in\u00a01993.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Israel has never accorded that right to the Palestinian people or to the State of Palestine, she noted.\u00a0 Emphasizing that the refugee question has nothing to do with recognition of Israel\u2019s sovereignty, she said Palestinians share the same right to which all refugees around the world are entitled, and are insisting on their rights under international law.\u00a0 Israel is making Palestine refugees the exception by denying their right of return, she stressed, recalling that after the 1949\u00a0armistice, Israel refused Palestine refugees the right to return to their homes.\u00a0 She underlined that peace remain elusive because of Israel\u2019s desire to impose a Jewish majority, regardless of international law human rights and the minimum requirements of decency and morality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n