A/RES/66/72 GA

United Nations A/RES/66/72 General Assembly Distr.: General 12 January 2012 Sixty-sixth session Agenda item 52 11-46314 *1146314* Please rec cle ♲ Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 2011 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/66/426)] 66/72. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 65/98 of 10 December 2010, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Aware of the fact that, for more than six decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for over sixty years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees through the provision of education, health, relief and social services and ongoing work in the areas of camp infrastructure, microfinance, protection and emergency assistance, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2010,1 Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/66/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/66/13/Add.1). A/RES/66/72 2 Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socio-economic living conditions, Expressing grave concern in particular at the critical humanitarian situation and socio-economic conditions of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance and urgent reconstruction efforts, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements2 on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization and the subsequent implementation agreements, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern and the Palestine refugees continue to require assistance to meet basic health, education and living needs; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reiterates its request to the Conciliation Commission to continue exerting efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly on the efforts being exerted in this regard as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2012; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its unimpeded operation and its provision of services for the well-being and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, including with regard to increased expenditures arising from the serious socio-economic and humanitarian situation and instability in the region, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those mentioned in recent emergency appeals; 5. Commends the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its provision of vital assistance to the Palestine refugees and its role as a stabilizing factor in the region and the tireless efforts of the staff of the Agency in carrying out its mandate; 6. Decides to invite Luxembourg, in accordance with the criterion set forth in General Assembly decision 60/522 of 8 December 2005, to become a member of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. 81st plenary meeting 9 December 2011 _______________ 2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

UN Project. “A/RES/66/72.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-66-72/. Accessed .

Copy citation