Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em reunião do Comitê Ad Hoc da Assembleia Geral pelo Anúncio de Contribuições Voluntárias para a Agência das Nações Unidas de Assistência aos Refugiados da Palestina no Próximo Oriente (Conferência dos Doadores - UNRWA) - 12 de julho de 2024 (texto em inglês)
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA`s Pledging Conference)
July 12th, 2024
Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Commissioner-General Lazzarini,
Colleagues,
This meeting is a much-needed opportunity for the international community to renew its support for UNRWA.
For the past 9 months, we have been witnessing an ever growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Civilians and critical infrastructure, as well as UN facilities and humanitarian workers, have become a recurrent target of the Occupying Power. We said in the past, we repeat it today: this is unacceptable and constitutes serious violations of international humanitarian law.
In this scenario, UNRWA’s work has been gravely impaired, as extensively informed by the Commissioner-General Lazzarini.
The agency’s dire budgetary situation is of particular concern. Funding interruptions jeopardize not only the fulfillment of its mandate but also the implementation of the recently adopted ICJ provisional measures, which establish the need to ensure humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Today, Brazil recommits to UNRWA's valuable humanitarian action. Since 2008, we have contributed more than US$ 20 million to its budget, through cooperation projects as well as donations of food and medicine. This year, besides our usual annual financial support, we will provide approximately 380 thousand dollars for the 2024 budget.
Brazil is also providing critically important political support for UNRWA. We joined the “shared commitments” presented this morning by 118 members – and counting. We kindly call all Member States to also join. Moreover, Brazil took on the role of second vice-president of the Advisory Commission, which we will preside for the one-year term starting in July 2025.
Brazil reiterates its call for an urgent, immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages and the safe, unimpeded and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid, at scale, into and within Gaza.
We also reiterate our full support for an independent and viable State of Palestine – whose sovereignty is recognized by Brazil since 2010 – living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Thank you.