Amman
Jordan
Secretary-General's video message to UNRWA Advisory Commission
Statements | Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary-General
Statements | Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary-General
Your Excellency, Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Mr. Chairman, Ambassador Manuel Bessler, Commissioner General, Mr. Pierre Krahenbuhl, Distinguished Members of UNRWA's Advisory Commission, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for this opportunity to address the UNRWA Advisory Commission.
As a community under UN protection, Palestine refugees continue to face enormous hardship and challenges.
In the occupied Palestinian territory, they are subjected to the indignities of an occupation that has entered its fiftieth year.
In Gaza, they have lived under an illegal blockade for nearly a decade.
In Syria, they are caught up in a merciless and seemingly endless war.
And in Lebanon, they face economic and social exclusion.
Palestine refugees deserve dignity, and they deserve our full support.
UNRWA is a life-line to millions of Palestine refugees.
I urge you to find effective, innovative and workable solutions to the recurring cash shortfall faced by the Agency.
The dire lack of resources is our collective failure. This must end.
UNRWA’s finances must be sufficient to carry out its work. They must be predictable and sustainable.
UNRWA is essential in providing education, health, social services, protection, dignity and a chance in life.
The Agency does so with remarkable efficiency and effectiveness.
As Advisory Commission members, you are mandated by the General Assembly to serve as guardians for UNRWA.
Let us continue to work to fully support UNRWA until we are able to find a just and lasting solution; until Palestine refugees can truly enjoy peace, dignity, justice and freedom to which all people rightly aspire. Thank you.
Thank you for this opportunity to address the UNRWA Advisory Commission.
As a community under UN protection, Palestine refugees continue to face enormous hardship and challenges.
In the occupied Palestinian territory, they are subjected to the indignities of an occupation that has entered its fiftieth year.
In Gaza, they have lived under an illegal blockade for nearly a decade.
In Syria, they are caught up in a merciless and seemingly endless war.
And in Lebanon, they face economic and social exclusion.
Palestine refugees deserve dignity, and they deserve our full support.
UNRWA is a life-line to millions of Palestine refugees.
I urge you to find effective, innovative and workable solutions to the recurring cash shortfall faced by the Agency.
The dire lack of resources is our collective failure. This must end.
UNRWA’s finances must be sufficient to carry out its work. They must be predictable and sustainable.
UNRWA is essential in providing education, health, social services, protection, dignity and a chance in life.
The Agency does so with remarkable efficiency and effectiveness.
As Advisory Commission members, you are mandated by the General Assembly to serve as guardians for UNRWA.
Let us continue to work to fully support UNRWA until we are able to find a just and lasting solution; until Palestine refugees can truly enjoy peace, dignity, justice and freedom to which all people rightly aspire. Thank you.