{"id":185577,"date":"2015-12-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T21:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=185577"},"modified":"2021-11-11T13:39:24","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T18:39:24","slug":"auto-insert-185577","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-185577\/","title":{"rendered":"Operations of UNRWA – GA resolution"},"content":{"rendered":"
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2015<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee 70\/85. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n The General Assembly,<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Recalling its <\/i><\/span>resolutions <\/span>194 (III<\/a>) of 11 December 1948, <\/span>212 (III)<\/a> of 19 November 1948, <\/span>302 (IV) <\/a>of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution <\/span>69\/88<\/a> of 5 December 2014,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Recalling also <\/i>the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,<\/p><\/div>\n Having considered <\/i><\/span>the<\/span> report<\/a> of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2014,<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the <\/span>letter<\/a> dated 16 June 2015 from the Chair of the Advisory Commission of the Agency to the Commissioner-General,<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Deeply concerned <\/i>about the extremely critical financial situation of the Agency, caused in part by the structural underfunding of the Agency, as well as its rising expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions and the conflicts and rising instability in the region and their significant negative impact on the provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency, recovery, reconstruction and development programmes in all fields of operation,<\/p><\/div>\n Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the special report of the Commissioner-General, submitted pursuant to paragraph 21 of General Assembly resolution <\/span>302 (IV)<\/a>, and transmitted by the Secretary-General on 4 August 2015, regarding the severe financial crisis of the Agency and the negative implications for Agency services, including its education programme for some 500,000 Palestine refugee children in more than 685 schools and some 7,000 youth in 8 vocational training centres,<\/span>3<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Expressing appreciation <\/i>for the mobilization of donors and host countries in response to the financial crisis, and expressing particular appreciation to the donors that extended generous support to avert the suspension of the Agency's education programme, while acknowledging the steadfast support of all other donors to the Agency,<\/p><\/div>\n Commending <\/i>the Agency for the measures taken to address the financial crisis, including internal measures to contain costs,<\/p><\/div>\n Emphasizing <\/i>the imperative of ensuring sustained and predictable financial support for the Agency, a pillar of stability for a registered population of 5.3 million Palestine refugees, including through the provision of the necessary resources to enable it to continue to deliver its vital services uninterruptedly,<\/p><\/div>\n Welcoming <\/i>the support for the Agency reaffirmed at the ministerial meeting convened on 26 September 2015 and at the high-level conference convened on 2 June 2015 in New York to commemorate the sixty-fifth anniversary of the commencement of the Agency's operations,<\/p><\/div>\n Recalling <\/i><\/span>Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Recalling also <\/i><\/span>the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Recalling further its <\/i>resolutions 69\/133 of 12 December 2014 on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations personnel and 68\/102 of 13 December 2013 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, calling, inter alia, upon all States to ensure respect for and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises,<\/p><\/div>\n Affirming <\/i><\/span>the applicability of the<\/span> Geneva Convention<\/a> relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span> to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Aware <\/i>of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,<\/p><\/div>\n Bearing in mind <\/i><\/span>the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,<\/span>7 <\/sup><\/span>including the pledge that no one will be left behind,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Gravely concerned <\/i>about the extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the recurrent military operations, continuing prolonged Israeli closures, the construction of settlements and the wall, and the severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, which have deepened unemployment and poverty rates among the refugees, with potentially lasting, long-term negative effects, while taking note of developments with regard to the situation of access there,<\/p><\/div>\n Deploring <\/i>the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, and the civilian casualties caused, including the killing and injury of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including children, women and the elderly, as well as the widespread destruction of or damage to thousands of homes and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, water, sanitation and electricity networks, economic, industrial and agricultural properties, public institutions, religious sites and United Nations schools and facilities, as well as the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, and any violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, in this regard,<\/p><\/div>\n Deploring also <\/i><\/span>attacks affecting United Nations installations, including Agency schools sheltering displaced civilians, and all other breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises during the conflict in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, as reported in the summary by the Secretary-General of the report of the Board of Inquiry<\/span>8<\/sup><\/span> and by the independent commission of inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution <\/span>S-21\/1<\/a>,<\/span>9<\/sup><\/span> and stressing the imperative of ensuring accountability,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Gravely concerned <\/i>about the lasting negative repercussions of the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, as well as in November 2012, on the humanitarian and socioeconomic situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip,<\/p><\/div>\n Commending <\/i>the extraordinary efforts by the Agency to provide shelter, emergency relief, medical, food, protection and other humanitarian assistance during the military operations of July and August 2014,<\/p><\/div>\n Recognizing <\/i>the need for the swift implementation of all aspects of the temporary tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations in September 2014, and stressing the urgent need for the lifting of all Israeli closures and restrictions on the Gaza Strip and for the reconstruction of destroyed homes and infrastructure,<\/p><\/div>\n Recalling, <\/i><\/span>in this regard, its resolution <\/span>ES-10\/18<\/a> of 16 January 2009 and Security Council resolution <\/span>1860<\/a> (2009) of 8 January 2009,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Calling upon <\/i>Israel to ensure the unimpeded import of essential construction materials into the Gaza Strip and to reduce the burdensome cost of importation of Agency supplies, while taking note of recent developments with regard to the tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations,<\/p><\/div>\n Expressing concern <\/i>about the severe classroom shortage in the Gaza Strip and the consequent negative impact on the right to education of refugee children,<\/p><\/div>\n Stressing <\/i>the urgent need for the advancement of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including by ensuring the timely facilitation of construction projects and by sustaining the swift entry of construction materials needed for projects managed by the Agency, and the need for the accelerated implementation of other urgent United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities,<\/p><\/div>\n Welcoming <\/i>contributions made to the Agency's emergency appeals for the Gaza Strip following the military operations in July and August 2014, and calling urgently upon the international community for continued support in accordance with the Agency's strategic response plan,<\/p><\/div>\n Welcoming also <\/i>the convening of the Cairo International Conference on Palestine: Reconstructing Gaza, on 12 October 2014, and urging the timely and full disbursement of pledges for expediting the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reconstruction process,<\/p><\/div>\n Stressing <\/i>that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and must ensure the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides,<\/p><\/div>\n Affirming <\/i>the need to support the Palestinian national consensus government in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza's crossing points,<\/p><\/div>\n Noting with appreciation <\/i>the progress made towards rebuilding the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp, commending the Government of Lebanon, donors, the Agency and other concerned parties for the continuing efforts to assist affected and displaced refugees, and emphasizing the need for additional funding to complete the reconstruction of the camp and end without delay the displacement from the camp of thousands of residents whose shelters have not been rebuilt,<\/p><\/div>\n Expressing deep concern <\/i>at the critical situation of Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic and at the impact of the crisis on the Agency's ability to deliver its services, and regretting profoundly the loss of life among refugees and the killing of 14 staff members of the Agency in the crisis since 2012,<\/p><\/div>\n Emphasizing <\/i><\/span>the need for increased assistance to Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries, and emphasizing the necessity of ensuring open borders for Palestine refugees fleeing the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, consistent with the principles of non-discrimination and non-refoulement under international law, and recalling in this regard the statement by the President of the Security Council of 2 October 2013,<\/span>10<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Aware <\/i>of the valuable work done by the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, and recalling the need for the protection of all civilians in situations of armed conflict,<\/p><\/div>\n Deploring <\/i>the endangerment of the safety of the Agency's staff and the damage and destruction caused to the facilities and properties of the Agency during the period covered by the report of the Commissioner-General, and stressing the need to maintain the neutrality of and safeguard the inviolability of United Nations premises, installations and equipment at all times,<\/p><\/div>\n Deploring also <\/i>the breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, the failure to accord the property and assets of the Organization immunity from any form of interference and the failure to protect United Nations personnel, premises and property,<\/p><\/div>\n Deploring further <\/i>the killing and injury of Agency staff members by the Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since September 2000, including the 11 Agency personnel killed during the military operations in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014,<\/p><\/div>\n Deploring <\/i>the killing and wounding of refugee children and women sheltering in the Agency schools by the Israeli occupying forces during the military operations of July and August 2014,<\/p><\/div>\n Affirming <\/i>the need for accountability and compensation to victims of violations of international law in accordance with international standards by all sides,<\/p><\/div>\n Deeply concerned <\/i>about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement and access of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, and the injury, harassment and intimidation of the Agency's staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide essential basic and emergency services,<\/p><\/div>\n Recalling <\/i><\/span>the <\/span>statement<\/a> of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on <\/span>5 December 2001<\/a> and on 17 December 2014 <\/span>11<\/sup><\/span> by the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, including the call upon parties to facilitate the activities of the Agency, to guarantee its protection and to refrain from levying taxes and imposing undue financial burdens,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n Aware <\/i>of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel,<\/p><\/div>\n Taking note <\/i><\/span>of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,<\/span>12<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n 1.\t<\/span>Reaffirms <\/i>that the effective functioning of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains essential in all fields of operation;<\/p><\/div>\n 2.\t<\/span>Expresses its appreciation <\/i>to the Commissioner-General of the Agency, as well as to all the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the difficult conditions, instability and crises faced during the past year;<\/p><\/div>\n 3.\t<\/span>Expresses special commendation <\/i>to the Agency for the essential role that it has played for more than 65 years since its establishment in providing vital services for the well-being, human development and protection of the Palestine refugees and the amelioration of their plight;<\/p><\/div>\n 4.\t<\/span>Commends <\/i>the extraordinary efforts of the Agency, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies on the ground, to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food and medical aid, to refugees and affected civilians during the military operations in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, and recognizes its exemplary capacity to mobilize in emergency situations while continuously carrying out its core human development programmes;<\/p><\/div>\n 5.\t<\/span>Expresses its appreciation <\/i>for the important support and cooperation provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties;<\/p><\/div>\n 6<\/i>.<\/i> \t<\/span>Also expresses its appreciation <\/i>to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities;<\/p><\/div>\n
\n(Fourth Committee) <\/i><\/span>(A\/70\/496<\/i><\/a>)]<\/i><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n