UNRWAプレッジング会合における志野大使ステートメント

Thank you, Mr. President.
 
Let me extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Secretary-General Mr. Guterres, the President of the General Assembly Mr. Dennis Francis, and UNRWA Commissioner-General Mr. Philippe Lazzarini for their powerful and moving statements.
 
This year marks the 75^th anniversary of UNRWA.
 
The current situation is not, unfortunately, what those who established the Agency envisaged 75 years ago.
 
The plight of Palestine refugees is nowhere near its end, and has only been intensifying since October last year.
 
Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, injured and plagued by the devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip and the heightened violence in the West Bank.
 
At the same time, UNRWA is experiencing the most difficult moment in its history.
 
We would like to express our sincere condolences to the loved ones and colleagues of the more than 190 brave UNRWA workers who lost their lives serving the Agency.
 
The need for an immediate, full and complete ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2735 cannot be more emphasized.
 
Mr. President,
 
Today, I wish to deliver four key messages from the Government of Japan, a long-standing partner of UNRWA since 1953, even before we became a member of the UN.
 
First, Japan strongly supports the work of UNRWA in providing critical life-saving assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, who are suffering from shortages of bare minimum goods essential for human life, such as safe water, food, shelter, and medicine.
 
UNRWA plays an indispensable role to preserve the human dignity of Palestinians.
 
Any actions that disrupt its activities are unacceptable.
 
UNRWA aid workers and premises should never be targeted.
 
We are deeply disturbed by the series of attacks on UNRWA’s schools over the past few days, which reportedly killed dozens of people who were taking refuge there.

Second, Japan highly values the various UN-led initiatives to address the serious allegations that UNRWA staff members participated in the brutal terror attack against Israel by Hamas and other militant groups.
 
We welcome and strongly support the commitment by Mr. Lazzarini to fully implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Independent Review Group led by Madam Colonna.
 
For our part, we will contribute to the development and implementation of training program for area staff managers to foster accountability and compliance with the principles of integrity and neutrality. We will also contribute to the effective management practices through the lens of Women, Peace and Security.
 
Japan looks forward to seeing concrete outcomes in UNRWA's reforms.
 
Third, Japan underscores the utmost importance of UNRWA in the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.
 
In particular, we agree with UNRWA's focus on the education of children, who are the next generation in Gaza, including treatment for the mental trauma inflicted on them by this conflict.
 
Necessary preparations for the reconstruction should be scaled up even before a sustainable ceasefire is achieved, and the Palestinian Authority should play a critical role to this end.

Fourth, Japan is profoundly alarmed by UNRWA’s severe funding shortage, which poses a great risk of the Agency closing down after August.
 
We have already contributed approximately 35 million US Dollars to UNRWA this year, and we will spare no effort to save the Agency’s vital operations, as we have done over the past seven decades as a major donor.
 
We call on the international community to urgently provide further financial support to UNRWA.
 
In conclusion, Mr. President, we need a strong UNRWA more than ever, and we have a collective responsibility to empower the Agency to navigate this time of unprecedented crisis.
 
I thank you, Mr. President.