UNGA 77 - Fourth Committee General debate on

United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

(November 7, 2022; 1000 hrs)

INDIA STATEMENT

     Thank you, Chairperson. I also thank the Commissioner-General of UNRWA for his briefing and would like to place on record India’s appreciation for the work undertaken by UNRWA under his leadership.

  2. Let me begin by reaffirming India’s and unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Palestine question. India has always supported a negotiated two-State solution leading to establishing a sovereign, independent, viable and democratic State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel, taking into account Israel’s legitimate security concerns.

  3. Pending the peaceful settlement of the Palestine question, UNRWA plays a critical role as a provider of development, humanitarian and social services to the Palestinian refugee community living in Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. The Agency’s services also contribute to the overall stability in the region.

  4. India fully supports the extension of the UNRWA’s mandate till June 2026. We also appreciate the steps taken by the Agency in ensuring transparency in its operations and adherence to the UN standards in humanitarian services, especially education, and urge utmost diligence on the part of UNRWA to ensure that aid is not misused or misappropriated for wrongful purposes.

Chairperson,

  5. Despite the overwhelming international support for UNRWA and its mandate, the Agency has faced severe liquidity crisis in recent years. The Agency has endeavored to overcome it through several initiatives, including austerity and cost control measures and optimizing efficiency. But the funding gap for the Agency’s core program budget has persisted and worsened with every passing year.

  6. As a result, the time has come to scale up our collective efforts to ensure the continuity of UNRWA’s essential services. In response to the Agency’s financial crisis, India enhanced its annual contribution to the Agency from US$ 1.25 million to US$ 5 million in 2018 and has contributed US$ 20 million over the last four years. We have already fully disbursed our 2022 pledge of US$ 5 million.

Chairperson,

  7. We appeal to other traditional donors of UNRWA to consider enhancing their contributions and non-donor Member States to consider financial contributions to UNRWA. Additional options for funding the Agency’s core program budget, as mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report A/71/849, should also be considered.

I thank you.

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