The United Nations General Assembly Renewed the Mandate of UNRWA

SadaNews - With the support of 149 countries, opposition from 10, and 13 abstaining from voting, the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution regarding assistance to Palestinian refugees and the renewal of the UNRWA mandate.

The Fourth Committee of the General Assembly is responsible for special political issues and decolonization.

In the resolution, the General Assembly expressed regret over the lack of return for refugees to their homes or compensation and stated that their conditions still raise serious concern, emphasizing the importance of providing assistance to meet their basic health, educational, and living needs.

The resolution confirmed the necessity of continuing the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the importance of carrying out its operations without obstacles until a just solution is reached for the issue of Palestinian refugees, deciding to renew its mandate until June 30, 2029.

Supporting the Rights and Future of Palestinian Refugees

Before the vote, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized the importance of renewing UNRWA's mandate to assist and protect Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution to their plight is reached.

In his speech at the UNRWA Advisory Committee meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman, he stressed the need for adequate funding for the public services provided by UNRWA so that the rights, lives, and futures of millions of refugees are not put at risk.

Lazzarini expressed hope that the recent UN Security Council resolution number 2803 regarding Gaza would be a step towards achieving lasting peace and respecting human rights.

UNRWA is Operating Fully in Gaza

Lazzarini stated that the situation in Gaza is still unstable, talking about the suffering of the population after two years of continuous Israeli bombardment, repeated displacement, and a harsh blockade.

He noted the prevalence of hunger and diseases and the extensive scope of physical and psychological trauma.

He emphasized the importance of restoring security, expanding humanitarian aid, and resuming the provision of public services as soon as possible.

He denied claims that UNRWA no longer operates in Gaza, saying, "This is far from the truth. The agency is still operating and is the largest provider of public health and education services."

The West Bank

Philippe Lazzarini spoke about the situation in the West Bank and the forcible displacement of more than 32,000 people from refugee camps in the north due to the aggression of Israeli occupation forces.

He stated that this is the largest displacement of Palestinian refugees since 1967.

The UN official also addressed the unprecedented levels of settler violence, with more than 500 incidents recorded in October alone.

Lazzarini also discussed the critically important services that UNRWA provides outside the occupied Palestinian territory, in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Since October 7, 2023, 380 UNRWA staff members have been killed in Gaza, and more than 300 agency buildings have been destroyed or damaged, in addition to "a significant number of its staff being subjected to arbitrary detention and torture," Lazzarini stated.