Statement of Shared Commitments on UNRWA

/ Deputy Prime Minister and MFEA Ms. Tanja Fajon, Photo Source: MFEA Slovenia

We acknowledge and appreciate the work of the United Nations system under the leadership of Secretary-General in the region of the Middle East. In this regard, we particularly emphasize the vital role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in accordance with its General Assembly mandate, in providing life-saving assistance to generations of Palestinian refugees through the provision of essential education, health, relief and social services programmes and emergency assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. In this regard we commit to continue:

  • Recognizing the important and indispensable role of the Agency in its 75 years of existence and work in assisting the Palestinian refugees and contributing to regional stability, and expressing support for UNRWA to effectively uphold its mandate in all fields of operation;
  • Underlining that UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza, and recognizing that no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA’s capacity;
  • Expressing appreciation to the United Nations Secretary General and UNRWA Commissioner-General for their dedication to the UNRWA mandate and mission, consistent with the relevant UN resolutions, and with humanitarian principles, including the principle of neutrality, as demonstrated also by the immediate establishment of the external independent review of UNRWA, the Secretary-General’s endorsement of the review’s recommendations, and the Commissioner-General’s commitment to implement the review’s recommendations,
  • Underscoring the need for the United Nations Secretary General, UNRWA, and Member States to expeditiously implement the recommendations of the independent review group report;
  • Welcoming the immediate initiation of the OIOS investigation into serious allegations made against a number of UNRWA employees, calling for a full and thorough investigation of the allegations, and reiterating the need for full accountability;
  • Underscoring appreciation and admiration for the work of the staff of the Agency in all fields of operation in fulfillment of the Agency’s mandate and respect for the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence;
  • Emphasizing the role of UNRWA as a pillar of regional stability and a lifeline of hope and opportunity for the millions of Palestinian refugees it serves, including children and women, and in this regard recognizing serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from any interruption or suspension of its vital work;
  • Highlighting concerns about the extremely critical financial situation of the Agency,
  • Recognizing the efforts of donors and host countries to respond to the Agency’s financial crisis, and the importance of sufficient, predictable and sustained funding support to the Agency;
  • Underlining the importance of cooperation of all States and other UN bodies with UNRWA;
  • Drawing attention to deliberations at the United Nations in order to further advance the visibility of and support to UNRWA’s important work.

List of supporting countries (last updated 11 July 2024 at 16:00)

1.         Albania

2.         Algeria

3.         Andorra

4.         Angola

5.         Armenia

6.         Australia

7.         Bahrain

8.         Bangladesh

9.         Belarus

10.        Belgium

11.        Bolivia

12.        Bosnia

13.        Botswana

14.        Brazil

15.        Brunei Darussalam

16.        Bulgaria

17.        Cabo Verde

18.        Cambodia

19.        Canada

20.        Chile

21.        China

22.        Colombia

23.        Comoros

24.        Costa Rica

25.        Cyprus

26.        Denmark

27.        Djibouti

28.        Dominican Republic

29.        Ecuador

30.        Egypt

31.        El Salvador

32.        Estonia

33.        Finland

34.        France

35.        Germany

36.        Ghana

37.        Greece

38.        Guatemala

39.        Guyana

40.        Honduras

41.        Iceland

42.        Indonesia

43.        Iraq

44.        Ireland

45.        Italy

46.        Japan

47.        Jordan

48.        Kazakhstan

49.        Kuwait

50.        Kyrgyzstan

51.        Laos

52.        Latvia

53.        Lebanon

54.        Libya

55.        Liechtenstein

56.        Lithuania

57.        Luxembourg

58.        Malaysia

59.        Maldives

60.        Malta

61.        Mauritania

62.        Mexico

63.        Monaco

64.        Montenegro

65.        Morocco

66.        Mozambique

67.        New Zealand

68.        Namibia

69.        Nicaragua

70.        Nigeria

71.        Norway

72.        Oman

73.        Pakistan

74.        Panama

75.        Peru

76.        Philippines

77.        Poland

78.        Portugal

79.        Qatar

80.        Republic of Korea

81.        Russia

82.        Saint Lucia

83.        Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

84.        San Marino

85.        Saudi Arabia

86.        Senegal

87.        Serbia

88.        Sierra Leone

89.        Slovenia

90.        Somalia           

91.        South Africa

92.        Spain

93.        Sri Lanka

94.        State of Palestine

95.        Suriname

96.        Switzerland

97.        Tajikistan

98.        Thailand

99.        Trinidad and Tobago

100.      Tunisia

101.      Türkiye

102.      Turkmenistan

103.      Uganda

104.      Ukraine

105.      United Arab Emirates

106.      United Kingdom

107.      United States of America

108.      Uzbekistan

109.      Venezuela

110.      Viet Nam

111.      Yemen

112.      Zimbabwe

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