Jordan: Continue funding UN Palestinian refugee agency

By Roee Ruttenberg June 21, 2011 | Edit

Following an interview UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness, I thought it appropriate to post this press release issued by UNRWA highlighting an appeal from the Jordan Prime Minister for continued funding for UNRWA. Marouf al-Bakheet warns of instability if money is withdrawn.

Jordan warns of instability if UN Palestine Refugee Agency’s funds cut UNRWA Commissioner General appeals for Arab funds

Jordan, 21 June 2011: The Prime Minister of Jordan, Marouf al-Bakheet, has warned of instability if the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is not properly funded and the Agency’s essential services to millions of Palestine refugees in the Middle East are cut. In a speech to UNRWA’s Advisory Commission delivered by the Deputy Prime Minister, Saed Hayel el-Sror, Mr. al-Bakheet said that in light of the transformations in the Middle East, Palestinian rights had to be maintained. “These are totally in line with the aspirations and hopes in the region”, he said. Referring to recent protests by Palestine refugees on the borders of Israel, he stressed that “their lawful rights were being denied”, arguing that these were “important elements of stability in the region”.

In view of what Mr al-Bakheet called “the critical political situation in the region”, he told the meeting of host governments and major donors to UNRWA that it was important to support the agency, thus supporting “peace and stability”. He said this was a matter of the highest national priority for his government and a matter of “Jordanian national security”.

Later, addressing the UNRWA meeting, its Commissioner General, Filippo Grandi, said:

“the events sweeping the region have resonated in the Palestinian refugee communities, where grievances about long-denied rights, as well as aspirations for a better life, run deep”.

Announcing a projected deficit for 2011 of USD 63 million, he appealed to Arab donors who he said gave generously for projects and relief. While their share of UNRWA’s core budget “increased last year to 3 per cent”, Grandi said “we really need a much bigger increase”.

In conclusion he said:

“the prolonged stagnation of the peace process is an increasing threat to the region’s stability”.

He called on the…:

“…political actors to take the bold steps necessary to embrace urgently a framework to end the conflict leading to the establishment of a viable Palestinian State, thriving in peace and mutual security with its neighbours and to a just and lasting solution to the refugee question. As the refugees emerged from – and exist as a consequence of – the 1948 conflict, addressing their plight, with their engagement and consent, is a prerequisite for a resolution of the conflict”.

Roee Ruttenberg is a freelance journalist, producer, and television news correspondent. He has worked for ABC News, CCTV (Chinese Television) News, Al Jazeera English and ZDF German Television, as well as several other international news outlets. His writings have been published in Ha’aretz and The Jerusalem Post. He divides his time between Israel and the United States.

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