Danish statement at the UNRWA Pledging Conference 23 June 2022

Mr. Secretary-General,

 

Mr. Commissioner General,

 

Thank you for convening this important and timely conference and for giving me the floor.

 

Let me start by acknowledging the indispensable and tireless work that UNRWA does in delivering essential services to the millions of Palestinian refugees living in an increasingly volatile context and with many risks and challenges, including conflict, climate change, COVID-19 recovery, and a growing food crisis. UNRWA plays a key role as a regional stabilizing factor and in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals and making sure that we leave no one behind.

 

With almost 6 million Palestine refugees in need of protection and humanitarian services in the region, there is simply no alternative to UNRWA.

 

This is why Denmark in 2020 increased our core support to UNRWA by 50 percent, raising it to around 15 million US Dollars. We have kept this level since as part of our multi-year commitment. In 2021, Denmark provided an additional amount of around 3 million US Dollars above and beyond our general contribution, bringing the Danish funding to a historically high level and making Denmark the 12. biggest donor to UNRWA.

 

Further, we support the emergence of a Palestinian state by contributing around 64 million USD over a four-year period through the Danish Palestine Country Programme. This funding supports state-building, economic development and the protection of human rights.

 

That said, we recognize that the current financial situation of UNRWA is unsustainable. The modernisation process will have to continue, allowing UNRWA to focus on essential services, while looking for better efficiencies and effectiveness. While we note informative and constructive deliberations at the adcom in Lebanon we do call on UNRWA to present credible pathways for covering the financial gap both short term and medium term.

 

We welcome the dialogue between UNRWA and national and local authorities, other UN agencies, civil society and the private sector with a view to make further progress on reforming the delivery of its services. Potentially through more analytical work as well as identification of concrete milestones would be welcomed.

 

We realise the value of predictable and flexible funding, and we join the EU in encouraging other countries to come forward with additional, sustainable funding as a sign of solidarity with Palestinian refugees.

 

Finally, we continue to insist on the need for a just, political two-state solution. This is the only way to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the region and a vital step towards a better future for the Palestinian refugee population. We will continue to support the invaluable work until a just, fair, agreed and realistic solution to the final status of Palestine refugees is reached.

 

I thank you.