A/RES/78/73 GA

United Nations A/RES/78/73 General Assembly Distr.: General 11 December 2023 23-24924 (E) 151223 *2324924* Seventy-eighth session Agenda item 49 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2023 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/78/420, para. 13)] 78/73. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution 77/122 of 12 December 2022, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered 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 2022,1 Taking note of the letter dated 21 June 2023 from the Chair of the Advisory Commission of the Agency addressed to the Commissioner-General,2 Underlining that, at a time of heightened conflict and instability in the Middle East, the Agency continues to play a vital role in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees through the provision of, inter alia, essential education, health, relief and social services programmes and emergency assistance to a registered population of more than 5.9 million refugees whose situation is extremely precarious, in mitigating the consequences of alarming trends in the Agency’s areas of operation, including increasing violence, marginalization and poverty and the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and in providing a crucial measure of stability in the region, __________________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/78/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/78/13/Add.1). 2 Ibid., Supplement No. 13 (A/78/13), pp. 7–9. A/RES/78/73 Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 23-24924 2/11 Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967 and 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, stressing the necessity of an accelerated return of displaced persons, and calling for compliance with the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 19933 on the return of displaced persons, Deeply concerned about the extremely critical financial situation of the Agency, caused by the structural underfunding of the Agency, as well as by rising needs and expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions and the conflicts and rising instability in the region and their significant negative impact on the ability of the Agency to deliver essential services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency, recovery, reconstruction and development programmes in all fields of operation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, 4 submitted pursuant to resolution 71/93 of 6 December 2016, and the request contained therein for broad consultations to explore all ways and means, including through voluntary and assessed contributions, to ensure that the Agency’s funding is sufficient, predictable and sustained for the duration of its mandate, and considering the recommendations contained in the report, Taking note also of the report of 31 May 2023 of the Commissioner-General, submitted pursuant to paragraph 57 of the report of the Secretary-General and in follow-up to the update to the special report of 3 August 2015 of the Commissioner- General,5 submitted pursuant to paragraph 21 of General Assembly resolution 302 (IV), regarding the severe financial crisis of the Agency and the negative implications for the continued delivery of core Agency programmes to the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation, Expressing appreciation for the efforts of donors and host countries to respond to the Agency’s unprecedented financial crisis, including through generous, additional contributions and, where possible, continued increases in voluntary contributions and agreements for multi-year funding, while acknowledging the steadfast support of all other donors to the Agency, Welcoming the contributions made to the Agency’s emergency appeals, including for the Gaza Strip and for the Syrian Arab Republic, and calling urgently upon the international community to continue its support, since needs persist and these appeals remain severely underfunded, Noting that contributions have not been predictable enough or sufficient to meet growing needs and remedy the persistent shortfalls, thereby undermining the Agency’s operations and efforts to promote human development and meet Palestine refugees’ basic needs, and stressing the need for further efforts to comprehensively address the recurrent funding shortfalls affecting the Agency’s operations, Recognizing the Agency’s extensive efforts to rapidly develop innovative and diversified ways to address its financial shortfall and mobilize resources, including through the expansion of the donor base and partnerships with United Nations entities, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society, including through special digital campaigns, __________________ 3 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. 4 A/71/849. 5 A/70/272, annex. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East A/RES/78/73 3/11 23-24924 Commending the Agency for the measures taken to address the financial crisis, despite difficult operational circumstances, including through the implementation of the medium-term strategy for 2016–2022 and various internal measures to contain expenditures, reduce operational and administrative costs, maximize the use of resources and reduce the funding shortfalls, and expressing profound concern that, despite such measures, the Agency’s programme budget, which is funded primarily by voluntary contributions from Member States and intergovernmental organizations, faces persistent shortfalls that continue to threaten the delivery of the Agency’s core programmes of assistance to the Palestine refugees, Encouraging the Agency to sustain those reform efforts, while also taking all possible measures to protect and improve the quality of access to and the delivery of core programmes of assistance, Recalling its resolution 65/272 of 18 April 2011, in which it requested the Secretary-General to continue to support the institutional strengthening of the Agency, Stressing the need to support the Agency’s capacity to uphold its mandate and to avert the serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of its vital work, Recognizing that the recurring and growing financial shortfalls directly affecting the sustainability of the Agency’s operations need to be remedied by examining new funding modalities designed to put the Agency on a stable financial footing to enable it to effectively carry out its core programmes in accordance with its mandate and commensurate with humanitarian needs, Welcoming the affirmation in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted by the General Assembly on 19 September 2016, 6 that, inter alia, the Agency, along with other relevant organizations, requires sufficient funding to be able to carry out its activities effectively and in a predictable manner, Bearing in mind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,7 including the pledge that no one will be left behind, emphasizing that the Sustainable Development Goals apply to all, including refugees, and commending the efforts of the Agency’s programmes to promote 10 of the 17 Goals, as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General, Welcoming the joint efforts of host countries and donors to mobilize support for the Agency, including through extraordinary ministerial meetings, inter alia, the extraordinary ministerial conference held in Rome on 15 March 2018, the ministerial meeting convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 26 September 2019, the extraordinary virtual ministerial pledging conference convened on 23 June 2020 and the most recent ministerial meetings held on 22 September 2022 and 21 September 2023, hosted by Jordan and Sweden, aimed at urgently addressing the Agency’s funding shortfall and the need for predictable multi-year funding, expanding donor support for the Agency and reaffirming support for its mandate, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,8 Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,9 __________________ 6 Resolution 71/1. 7 Resolution 70/1. 8 Resolution 22 A (I). 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457. A/RES/78/73 Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 23-24924 4/11 Recalling further its resolutions 75/125 of 11 December 2020 on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and 75/127 of 11 December 2020 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, calling upon, inter alia, all States to ensure respect for and the protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 10 to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the recurrent military operations, continuing prolonged Israeli closures, the construction of settlements and the wall, evictions, the demolition of homes and livelihood properties causing forced transfers of civilians, and the severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, which have deepened unemployment and poverty rates among the refugees, with potentially lasting, long- term negative effects, while taking note of developments with regard to the situation of access there, Concerned about plans and measures to interfere with or obstruct the operations of the Agency, including in East Jerusalem, contrary to international law and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and reiterating the need for the Agency to fully implement its mandate in support of Palestine refugees without interference, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Commending the health-care staff of the Agency for their dedication in responding to the profound stresses caused to the health system by the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties in the recent period in the Gaza Strip, Commending also the important role played by the Agency throughout its areas of operations to help to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19, Expressing grave concern in this regard about the lasting impact on the humanitarian and socioeconomic situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, including high rates of food insecurity, poverty, displacement and the depletion of coping capacities, Recalling the temporary tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations in September 2014, and stressing the urgent need for the lifting of all Israeli closures and restrictions on the Gaza Strip, Recalling also its resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009 and Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009, as well as the Agreement on Movement and Access of 15 November 2005, __________________ 10 Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East A/RES/78/73 5/11 23-24924 Expressing concern about the continuing classroom shortage, including in the Gaza Strip, and the consequent negative impact on the right to education of refugee children, Stressing the urgent need for the provision of the necessary humanitarian assistance and funding support for the advancement of reconstruction and recovery in the Gaza Strip, including by ensuring the timely facilitation of construction projects, including extensive shelter repair, and the need for the accelerated implementation of other urgent United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities, and calling upon Israel to ensure the expedited and unimpeded import of all necessary construction materials into the Gaza Strip and to reduce the burdensome cost of importation of Agency supplies, while taking note of the continued implementation of the tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations, Stressing also that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the sustained and regular opening of crossing points, and must ensure the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides, Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government in its assumption of full government responsibilities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s crossing points, Expressing deep concern at the critical situation of Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic and at the impact of the crisis on the Agency’s installations and its ability to deliver its services, and regretting profoundly the loss of life and widespread displacement among refugees and the killing of staff members of the Agency in the crisis since 2012, Emphasizing the continuing need for assistance to Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries, including in particular Lebanon, where an unprecedent financial crisis is further affecting socioeconomic conditions among the refugees and exacerbating already high unemployment and poverty rates, and emphasizing the necessity of ensuring open borders for Palestine refugees fleeing the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, consistent with the principles of non-discrimination and non-refoulement under international law, and recalling in this regard the statement by the President of the Security Council of 2 October 201311 and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, Aware of the valuable work done by the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, and recalling the need for the protection of all civilians in situations of armed conflict, Deploring the endangerment of the safety of the Agency’s staff and the damage and destruction caused to the facilities and properties of the Agency, and stressing the need to maintain the neutrality and safeguard the inviolability of United Nations premises, installations and equipment at all times, Deploring also the breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, the failure to accord the property and assets of the Organization immunity from any form of interference, incursions or misuse, the failure to protect United Nations personnel, premises and property and any disruption caused to Agency operations by such violations, __________________ 11 S/PRST/2013/15; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July 2014 (S/INF/69). A/RES/78/73 Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 23-24924 6/11 Deploring further all attacks affecting United Nations installations, including Agency schools sheltering displaced civilians, and all other breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, including during the conflict in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, as reported in the summary by the Secretary-General of the report of the Board of Inquiry12 and by the independent commission of inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1,13 and stressing the imperative of ensuring accountability, Condemning the killing, injury and detention contrary to international law of Agency staff members, Condemning also the killing, wounding and detention contrary to international law of refugee children and women, Affirming the need for accountability and compensation to victims of violations of international law in accordance with international standards by all sides, Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement and access of the Agency’s staff, vehicles and goods, and the injury, harassment and intimidation of the Agency’s staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide essential basic and emergency services, Recalling the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on 5 December 2001 and on 17 December 201414 by the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, including the call upon parties to facilitate the activities of the Agency, to guarantee its protection and to refrain from levying taxes and imposing undue financial burdens, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization, 15 1. Reaffirms that the effective functioning of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains essential in all fields of operation; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the Agency, as well as to all the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the difficult conditions, instability and crises faced during the past year; 3. Expresses special commendation to the Agency for the essential role that it has played for more than seven decades since its establishment in providing vital services for the well-being, human development and protection of the Palestine refugees and the amelioration of their plight and for the stability of the region, and affirms the necessity for continuing the work of the Agency and its unimpeded operation and provision of services, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Commends the Agency for its extraordinary efforts, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies on the ground, to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food and medical aid, to refugees and affected civilians during periods of crisis and conflict, and recognizes its exemplary capacity to __________________ 12 S/2015/286, annex. 13 See A/HRC/29/52. 14 A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex. 15 Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East A/RES/78/73 7/11 23-24924 mobilize in emergency situations while continuously carrying out its core human development programmes; 5. Endorses in this regard the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the Agency to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, while reaffirming the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 6. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purpose; 7. Expresses its grave concern about attempts to discredit the Agency despite its proven operational capacity, record of effective provision of humanitarian and development assistance and consistent implementation of its mandate in accordance with relevant resolutions and its regulatory framework, even under the most difficult circumstances; 8. Reaffirms the Agency’s important role in providing humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine refugees, engaging with international human rights mechanisms, as appropriate, and in doing so contributing to the protection and resilience of Palestinian civilians, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of the Palestinian civilian population, 16 and contributing to regional stability; 9. Expresses its appreciation for the important support and cooperation provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities; 11. Takes note of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 17 and the efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 12. Expresses its deep appreciation to all donor countries and organizations that have, inter alia, sustained, accelerated or increased their contributions to the Agency, helping to alleviate its recurrent financial crises, to mitigate imminent risks to its core and emergency programming and to prevent an interruption of essential assistance to Palestine refugees; 13. Commends the Agency for its strategic plan and the Commissioner-General for his continuing efforts to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency’s proposed programme budget for 2024;18 14. Also commends the Agency for sustaining its robust internal reform efforts, despite difficult operational circumstances, and recognizes its implementation of maximum efficiency procedures to contain expenditures, reduce operational and administrative costs, reduce its funding shortfalls and maximize the use of resources; __________________ 16 A/ES-10/794. 17 A/78/314. 18 A/78/6 (Sect. 26). A/RES/78/73 Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 23-24924 8/11 15. Calls upon the Agency to further enhance its internal governance and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the Agency’s management is delivering on its mandate with transparency and accountability, while preserving the Agency’s agility and operational response capacity; 16. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, including the proposal for an increased assessed contribution from the regular budget of the United Nations; 17. Decides to consider a gradual increase in the United Nations regular budget allocation to the Agency that would, in addition to covering international staff requirements, in accordance with resolution 3331 B (XXIX) of 17 December 1974, be utilizable to support expenses for operational costs related to executive and administrative management functions of the Agency, and invites the Secretary- General, accordingly, to submit proposals for consideration by the relevant committees at its seventy-ninth session; 18. Appeals to States and organizations for the maintenance of their voluntary contributions to the Agency, as well as an increase in contributions where possible, in particular to the Agency’s programme budget, including in the consideration of their allocation of resources for international human rights, peace and stability, development and humanitarian efforts, to support the Agency’s mandate and its ability to meet the rising needs of the Palestine refugees and essential associated costs of operations; 19. Appeals to States and organizations not currently contributing to the Agency to urgently consider making voluntary contributions in response to the calls of the Secretary-General for expansion of the Agency’s donor base, in order to stabilize funding and ensure greater sharing of the financial burden of supporting the Agency’s operations, in accordance with the continuing responsibility of the international community as a whole to assist the Palestine refugees; 20. Calls for the provision by donors of early annual voluntary contributions, less earmarking, and multi-year funding, in line with the Grand Bargain on humanitarian financing announced at the World Humanitarian Summit, held in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2016, in order to enhance the Agency’s ability to plan and implement its operations with a greater degree of assurance regarding resource flows; 21. Also calls for the full and timely funding by donors of the Agency’s emergency, recovery and reconstruction programmes as set out in its appeals and response plans; 22. Requests the Commissioner-General to continue efforts to maintain and increase traditional donor support and to enhance income from non-traditional donors, including through partnerships with public and private entities; 23. Encourages the Agency to explore financing avenues in relation to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals;19 24. Urges States and organizations to actively pursue partnerships with and innovative support for the Agency, including as recommended in paragraphs 47, 48 and 50 of the report of the Secretary-General,20 including through the establishment of endowments, trust funds or revolving fund mechanisms and assistance to the Agency to access humanitarian, development and peace and security trust funds and grants; 25. Welcomes pledges by States and organizations to provide diplomatic and technical support to the Agency, including engagement with international and __________________ 19 See resolution 70/1. 20 A/71/849. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East A/RES/78/73 9/11 23-24924 financial development institutions, including the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, and, where appropriate, to facilitate support for the establishment of financing mechanisms that can provide assistance to refugees and in fragile contexts, including to meet the needs of the Palestine refugees, and calls for serious follow-up efforts; 26. Urges States and organizations to provide contributions to the waqf fund established by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the Islamic Development Bank in support of Palestine refugees through enhanced support to the Agency; 27. Encourages further progress with regard to the creation of a World Bank multi-donor trust fund; 28. Requests the Agency to continue to implement efficiency measures through its medium-term strategy and the development of a five-year proposal for stabilizing the Agency’s finances, including specific and time-bound measures, and to continue to improve its cost-efficiency and resource mobilization efforts; 29. Calls upon the members of the Advisory Commission and the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to consider the relevant recommendations in the report of the Secretary-General, including to help the Agency to address resource mobilization challenges and to actively assist the Commissioner-General in the efforts to create sustainable, sufficient and predictable support for the Agency’s operations; 30. Takes note of the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the support provided to the Agency from the regular budget of the United Nations; 31. Endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as is practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are internally displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of recent crises in the Agency’s fields of operation; 32. Encourages the Agency to provide increased assistance, in accordance with its mandate, to affected Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to those who have fled to neighbouring countries, as detailed in the Syrian regional crisis response plans, and calls upon donors to urgently ensure sustained support to the Agency in this regard in the light of the continuing grave deterioration of the situation and the growing needs of the refugees; 33. Welcomes the progress made thus far by the Agency in rebuilding the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon, and calls for donor funding to enable the expeditious completion of its reconstruction, for the continued provision of relief assistance to those displaced following its destruction in 2007 and for the alleviation of their ongoing suffering through the provision of the necessary support and financial assistance until the reconstruction of the camp is complete; 34. Encourages the Agency, in close cooperation with other relevant United Nations entities, to continue to make progress in addressing the needs, rights and protection of children, women and persons with disabilities in its operations, including through the provision of necessary psychosocial and humanitarian support, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 21 the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women22 and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;23 __________________ 21 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 22 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 23 Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910. A/RES/78/73 Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 23-24924 10/11 35. Also encourages the Agency to continue to reduce the vulnerability and improve the self-reliance and resilience of Palestine refugees through its programmes; 36. Recognizes the acute protection needs of Palestine refugees across the region, and encourages the Agency’s efforts to contribute to a coordinated and sustained response in accordance with international law, including the Agency’s new protection strategic framework; 37. Commends the Agency for its humanitarian and psychosocial support programmes and other initiatives that provide recreational, cultural and educational activities for children in all fields, including in the Gaza Strip, recognizing their positive contribution, calls for full support for such initiatives by donor and host countries, and encourages the building and strengthening of partnerships to facilitate and enhance the provision of these services; 38. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 39. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, at all times; 40. Urges the Government of Israel to expeditiously reimburse the Agency for all transit charges incurred and other financial losses sustained as a result of the delays and restrictions on movement and access imposed by Israel; 41. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement and access of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease levying taxes, extra fees and charges, which affect the Agency’s operations detrimentally; 42. Reiterates its call upon Israel to fully lift the restrictions impeding or delaying the import of necessary construction materials and supplies for the reconstruction and repair of the remaining damaged or destroyed refugee shelters, and for the implementation of suspended and urgently needed civilian infrastructure projects in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, noting the alarming figures reflected in the United Nations country team reports of 26 August 2016, entitled “Gaza: two years after”, and of July 2017, entitled “Gaza ten years later”; 43. Notes with appreciation the positive contribution of the Agency’s microfinance and job creation programmes, encourages efforts to enhance the sustainability and benefits of microfinance services to a greater number of Palestine refugees, especially in view of the high unemployment rates affecting them, and youth in particular, welcomes the Agency’s efforts to streamline costs and increase microfinance services through internal reform efforts, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute to the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation; 44. Reiterates its appeals to all States, the specialized agencies, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment their contributions to the programme budget of the Agency, to increase their special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees and to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East A/RES/78/73 11/11 23-24924 45. Calls upon the Commissioner-General to include, in the annual reporting to the General Assembly, assessments on the progress made to remedy the recurrent funding shortfalls of the Agency and ensure sustained, sufficient and predictable support for the Agency’s operations, including through the implementation of the relevant provisions of the present resolution. 45th plenary meeting 7 December 2023

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