Chair,
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is intervening in this debate to emphasize the importance that we attach to the work of UNRWA.
The IFRC was particularly pleased with the support given by the international community to UNRWA at a conference, on realizing the Humanitarian Needs of the Palestinian People. The conference was held in Geneva from June 7-8, 2004. It was co-hosted by UNRWA and the Swiss Government. During this time a number of governments expressed their support for the work done by UNRWA, and many of them pledged to provide an increase in resources allocated to help with UNRWA's programs.
The support provided to UNRWA is important to the IFRC and our network of National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, in particular to the Palestine Red Crescent (PRCS). At the conference the President of the PRCS was a leading member of the IFRC's delegation, also actively involved were members of the PRCS youth program. Their involvement included an impressive presentation of the work that PRCS youth does to help meet the health and welfare needs of people living in the West Bank and Gaza. During the conference UNRWA also acknowledged the special role played by the PRCS.
The PRCS has a network of 20 branches throughout the West Bank and Gaza. It has programs that are conducted in close collaboration with UNRWA and other constituents of the UN family, which are located in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Jordan. One example of a program, which PRCS operates in close cooperation with UNRWA, is its hospitals. In one case it has the important task of providing secondary health care to refugees in Lebanon, where it operates 6 out of the 15 hospitals. Apart from running hospitals, PRCS is responsible for a number of important services, which include emergency medical assistance, disaster risk reduction, and mental health and social services.
The PRCS is also active in the promotion of humanitarian values and principles. It carries out these programs through strong volunteer support, which consists of 50 volunteer committees. Youth activities are a priority, with over 50 summer camps held each year. These camps accommodate over 6000 participants. In all PRCS has over 5700 active volunteers, which provide assistance to almost 35,000 of the most vulnerable people.
Chair,
With this statement I wanted to offer an example how Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies work in times of extreme pressure to provide support to the most vulnerable. From that I wish to highlight the importance of strengthening the support of the international donor community for such organizations, and in this case particularly for the work done by UNRWA.
The work done with Palestinian refugees has become a consistently expanding responsibility of ours. We were encouraged that the conference in Geneva might reawaken international attention to the serious problems faced by refugees. We hoped that this would lead to an increased recognition of the work done by UNRWA and other agencies dedicated to supporting the needs of Palestinian refugees.
We look forward to the maintenance of the "new humanitarian mobilization," expressed at the conference. As part of that mobilization, the IFRC intends to enhance its operational and policy relationships with UNRWA. We accept the challenge put forward at the conference by Commissioner-General Peter Hansen and Ambassador Walter Fust of Switzerland when they said that one of the goals of the conference was to enforce stronger partnerships between UNRWA and humanitarian agencies. The IFRC is one such partner. We are constantly working with the interests and concerns of the PRCS and the Palestinian people at the forefront.
Chair,
It is our hope that the international community, and UNRWA, will continue to support the PRCS, and other organizations committed to building resilient communities. Thus they are helping to build a future where people can live in dignity, peace and prosperity.
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