ammonnews.net

Ammon News - Commissioner-General of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini called Wednesday on the UN General Assembly Member States to act in defence of Palestine Refugees and of UNRWA.

“The future of Palestine Refugees is a shared responsibility. To do so is to defend the United Nations, which lies at the heart of our multilateral system. It is to defend our collective future, which is today in the greatest jeopardy,” Lazzarini said in a statement.

He affirmed that UNRWA is the mechanism through which this Assembly has tasked the United Nations to assist Palestine Refugees.

He said UNRWA is unique among UN agencies in that it is mandated to directly provide public-like services, including education for more than half a million children, primary healthcare, and social support.

“I have three urgent requests to prevent this devastating outcome:

“First, I ask that Member States act to prevent the implementation of the legislation against UNRWA,” noting that changes to UNRWA’s mandate are the prerogative of the General Assembly, not individual Member States.

“Second, I ask that Member States ensure that any plan for a political transition delineates UNRWA’s role,” affirming that the agency must progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political solution, and hand over its services to an empowered Palestinian administration.

Finally, he asked that Member States maintain funding to UNRWA, and not withhold or divert funds on the assumption that the Agency can no longer operate.

On October 28, the Israeli Knesset passed a law “banning UNRWA’s activities inside Israel,” and the Foreign Ministry of the occupation government officially informed the United Nations on Monday of the cancellation of the agreement signed with UNRWA in 1967 that regulates its relief operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.

Wafa