The UN Secretary-General, calls on all donors to urgently ensure that the US$100 million required be contributed to UNRWA so that the children of Palestine can begin their 2015-2016 school year without delay
Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
In a letter transmitting the UNRWA Commissioner-General’s Special Report to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General expresses his deep concern over the financial situation confronting the Agency and the humanitarian, political and security consequences that will result if adequate and sustainable financing for 2015 and beyond is not made available immediately.
The Secretary General emphasises that at a time when crises and human suffering are growing throughout the Middle East, it is imperative that UNRWA, a pillar of stability for a registered population of some 5 million Palestine refugees, is provided with the resources necessary to enable it to continue providing services including education for half a million Palestine refugee children.
The Secretary-General reiterates his full support for the Commissioner-General's proposals to ensure immediate attention to the gravity of the situation caused by UNRWA’s unprecedented financial shortfall for 2015 and to address urgently the chronic funding issues faced by the Agency for 2016 and beyond.
The Secretary-General, who has personally spoken to several world leaders in the past few weeks on this topic, calls on all donors to urgently ensure that the US$100 million required be contributed to UNRWA at the earliest possible date so that the children of Palestine can begin their 2015-2016 school year without delay.
New York, 4 August 2015