UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY BRIEFING ON THE UN RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES (UNRWA)
4 March 2024
Statement by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
President,
Thank you for convening this meeting, and I thank Commissioner-General Lazzarini for his briefing, which emphasised the profound humanitarian crisis underway in Gaza.
I want to start by expressing deepest condolences on behalf of Australia for the brave UNRWA staff who have tragically lost their lives.
Their loss is a stark reminder that all humanitarians must be protected.
Australia has been a long-standing supporter of, and contributor to, UNRWA.
The work it does has helped ameliorate the extremely difficult conditions Palestinians currently face in Gaza.
We believe that no other agency has the mandate or capacity to provide the type of support that UNRWA provides to Palestinians in Gaza and in the region.
Since the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October, Australia has committed AUD$46.5 million in assistance to meet humanitarian needs in Gaza and the wider region. We will be providing more in the coming days.
As a committed donor, Australia remains deeply concerned by the allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the 7 October terrorist attacks.
We welcome the steps you, Commissioner-General, and the UN Secretary-General have taken to provide transparency and accountability.
We acknowledge the work of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Ms Catherine Colonna in their respective investigations, and UNRWA’s own efforts to strengthen internal oversight and accountability.
Having acted quickly on these serious allegations, Australia looks to Israel to cooperate fully with UN investigators.
We have consistently called on Israel to provide all available evidence so that these serious allegations can be properly assessed and appropriate safeguards put in place.
Australia repeats that call today.
Australia will continue to work with the UN on its reviews.
The humanitarian crisis is dire. We seek the urgent assurance that will allow us to restore funding.
We look forward to receiving a clear commitment that UNRWA will implement any recommendations that emerge from these investigations.
And we seek the UN’s commitment to making internal reforms with clear timelines to support our decision-making in resuming funding to UNRWA.
In the meantime, we urge Member States to consider their rhetoric.
In particular I refer to the Russian Federation, which criticises countries for pausing contributions, yet gives very little to UNRWA to start with.
Russia gave UNRWA just one tenth of what Australia has already disbursed to UNRWA in the past 12 months.
If Russia were sincere, it would direct the resources it is spending killing Ukrainians toward lifesaving aid in Gaza.
Thank you.