PGA LEADS UNRWA PLEDGING CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF UN AGENCY
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, delivered opening remarks at the UNRWA Pledging Conference, which he has convened to support the work done by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The PGA asked the participants to observe a minute of silence in the memory of 197 UNRWA staff members who lost their lives since 7 October 2023.
President Francis stressed that the UN agency provides protection for 5.9 million registered Palestinian refugees – including vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities. A total of 58 refugee camps addresses the humanitarian needs of 1.6 million people in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank including East Jerusalem.
The GA President said that: “It should deeply alarm us all that UNRWA is currently standing on the precipice of financial collapse.” If nothing changes, UNRWA could be forced to cease operations this year.
The agency’s emergency appeal of $1.2 billion are underfunded at 18 per cent.
Mr. Francis highlighted that “more than 90 per cent of the Gaza Strip’s population is displaced – with nowhere safe to turn.”
The territory is grappling with severe acute food insecurity – with half a million people on the brink of famine.”
President Francis affirmed that “in these extraordinary times”, the UNRWA Pledging Conference cannot proceed on the basis of “business as usual”.
The PGA is advocating for substantial contributions to be made.
He also reiterated his call for donations by all stakeholders, including philanthropic organizations, the private sector and individuals.
Whilst speaking about the conflict in the region, Mr. Francis reiterated the General Assembly’s resolutions in its Emergency Special Sessions for “an immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire, for the adherence to international law by all parties, for the facilitation of immediate humanitarian access, including the lifting of restrictions placed on humanitarian actors by Israel, and the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages.”
The Secretary-General, António Guterres, and the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, and the Permanent Observer of the observer State of Palestine, H.E., Mr. Riyad Mansour, also spoke at the opening segment, which is being followed by remarks from Member States and regional organizations.
There are 62 speakers inscribed on the list to deliver remarks.
The meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to announce voluntary contributions to UNRWA is taking place in the Trusteeship Council Chamber and will continue until 1 p.m. until resuming from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. later today.
As previously announced, the Commissioner-General will speak to the press later today on the outcome of the UNRWA Pledging Conference.
GA ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON SAFETY OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES OF UKRAINE
Yesterday, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on “Safety and security of nuclear facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant”. This was part of Agenda Item 62, on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This morning, President Dennis Francis, issued a post on his X social media account welcoming the GA adoption and stating that “the militarization of nuclear sites significantly heightens the risk of a nuclear accident or incident, endangering not only the people of Ukraine but the entire international community.”
PGA’S AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK:
Finally for your diaries: PGA Dennis Francis will speak on Monday, 15 July, at the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), including the three-day ministerial segment of the High-Level Political Forum, which will be held from Monday, 15 July, to Thursday, 18 July 2024.
Also, on Monday, the PGA will convene an informal meeting of the General Assembly to observe Nelson Mandela International Day, at 11 a.m., in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters New York.
He will deliver opening remarks at the event which will hear also from the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina J Mohammed, and other speakers.
This is everything for today and for this week. Do you have anything else?
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