Statement by H.E. Ambassador SHINO Mitsuko, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations UNRWA Pledging Conference
2023/6/2
(As delivered)
Mr. President,Chef de Cabinet, on behalf of Secretary-General, Commissioner-General Mr. Lazzarini, thank you for warning us of the serous reality. Heartfelt welcome to Ahmad and Leen. Honor is on our side to listen to you.
The humanitarian situation in Palestine is deeply worrying and the path to a two-state solution remains elusive due to the vicious cycle of violence, flaring tensions, and persistent unilateral actions that are unacceptable.
As long as the conflict in the region continues, the role of UNRWA will remain a vital backbone for the more than 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, including those in situations of intensified hostilities. UNRWA’s humanitarian services provide lifesaving assistance, including support for schools and primary health facilities and the delivery of emergency food and cash assistance.
Last month, Japan hosted an event in NY with UNRWA’s Deputy Commissioner General, Ms. Leni Stenseth, and UNRWA’s Director of Health, Dr. Akihiro Seita. We acknowledged, once again, the critical role of UNRWA in providing fundamental social services, including in health and education, to Palestine refugees, which serve for regional stability and provide hope for the younger generation.
However, there is currently a severe funding crisis. Special Coordinator Mr. Tor Wennesland recently warned and we have just heard from Mr. Lazzarini, that without new funding, UNRWA will not have the resources to deliver core services to Palestine Refugees in September, which may lead to even more serious humanitarian and possible security challenges. UNRWA’s critical financial situation must be addressed fully and promptly by the international community
Mr. President,
It was in 1953, even before Japan joined the UN and at a time when Japan was still struggling to overcome ravages of war, that we made our first financial contribution to UNRWA. And Japan has been a staunch and long-standing partner of UNRWA ever since. This year, we are proud that Japan can commemorate the 70th anniversary of its partnership with the Agency. This button is a present from our UNRWA friend to symbolize our 70 years of cooperation. In 2023, so far, we have contributed a total of 40.1 million US dollars to UNRWA to alleviate the impact of rising food prices on Palestine refugees in Gaza and Syria, and to ensure that vulnerable Palestine refugees have access to quality health care and education, food aid, and indispensable infrastructure so as to holistically improve the livelihoods of Palestine refugees. On 18 May, we contributed the additional 800,000 US dollars dedicated to the Agency, UNRWA, as an emergency response to the earthquake in Syria.
I would like to conclude my remarks by reiterating that Japan will continue its strong and consistent support to UNRWA including through a range of initiatives on digital health and the enhancement of access to quality healthcare services and various other fields. We strongly encourage fellow Member States to support UNRWA to ensure the continuation of its essential work.
I thank you.