{"id":176879,"date":"1986-06-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T20:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=176879"},"modified":"2019-03-11T20:24:15","modified_gmt":"2019-03-11T20:24:15","slug":"auto-insert-176879","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-176879\/","title":{"rendered":"±¬ÁÏÍøRWA – Annual report of the Commissioner-General"},"content":{"rendered":"
REPORT<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n OF THE COMMISSIONER-GENERAL<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n OF THE ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n IN THE NEAR EAST<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n ______________<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n 1 July 1985 – 30 June 1986<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n NOTE<\/p><\/div>\n \t<\/span>Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In the present report, the term "West Bank" refers to the occupied West Bank of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the term "Jordan refers to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan excluding the occupied West Bank, wherever it is necessary to differentiate between these two Fields of the Agency's area of operations.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n [Original: Arabic\/English\/French]<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n [23 September 1986]<\/p><\/div>\n CONTENTS<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n Chapter<\/u><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Paragraphs<\/u><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Page<\/u><\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Letter of transmittal ………………………………………………<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Letter from the Chairman of the Advisory Commission of the<\/p>\n United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees<\/p>\n in the Near East to the Commissioner-General ………………………….<\/p>\n<\/td>\n iv<\/p>\n <\/p>\n v<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n I.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n II.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n INTRODUCTION ………………………………………..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA OPERATIONS …………………………………….<\/p>\n <\/td>\n 1 – 17<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 18 – 51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n A.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n B.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n C.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n D.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n E.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n The historical setting ……………………………<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eligibility, registration and camp administration ……<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Highlights of operations in 1985-1986 ………………<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emergency operations ……………………………..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Co-operation with other United Nations and<\/p>\n non-governmental organizations …………………….<\/p>\n <\/td>\n 18 – 23<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 24 – 28<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 29 – 43<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 44 – 48<\/p>\n 49 – 51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n III.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n BASIC PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES ……………………….<\/p>\n <\/td>\n 52 – 118<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n A.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n B.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n C.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n D.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Education ……………………………………….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health services ………………………………….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Relief services ………………………………….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Legal matters ……………………………………<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 52 – 65<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 66 – 91<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 92 – 107<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 108 – 118<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Annexes<\/u><\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n I.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n II.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n STATISTICAL INFORMATION …………………………………………<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PERTINENT RECORDS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OTHER ±¬ÁÏÍøITED NATIONS<\/p>\n BODIES ………………………………………………………..<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 21<\/p>\n 36<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL<\/p><\/div>\n 2 September 1986<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Sir,<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>I have the honor to submit my annual report to the General Assembly on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (±¬ÁÏÍøRWA) for the period 1 July 1985 to 30 June 1986, in compliance with the request in paragraph 21 of resolution <\/span>302 (IV)<\/span> of 8 December 1949 and with paragraph 8 of resolution <\/span>1315 (XIII)<\/span> of 12 December 1958.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In the introduction to the report (chapter I), I have focused on the continuing financial uncertainties facing ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA, caught as it is between fixed spending requirements and an uncertain level of annual voluntary contributions. Also stressed are the problems for the Agency arising from the tragic situation in Lebanon and the growing difficulties facing refugees in the Gaza Strip. Conditions in Lebanon have received much attention from members of the General Assembly; I am obliged now to urge the international community to give its early attention to an increasingly difficult situation in Gaza.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Chapter II of the report presents an overview of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's history followed by highlights of the Agency's operations during the reporting period as well as the emergency operations in Lebanon. Mention is also made of the closer relationships that are developing between ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA and non-governmental organizations.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>As was the case last year, to make available the most up-to-date data to the General Assembly, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's 1987 budget and other financial information will be presented in an addendum to this report.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The two annexes give statistical data on ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA operations and programmes and references to documents of the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies related to the Agency's operations.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The members of the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Advisory Commission examined this report in draft, and their views have been given careful attention in preparing the final text. Its views are set forth in its Chairman's letter of 28 August 1986, of which I enclose a copy.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>I have deemed it appropriate to maintain the established practice of showing the draft to representatives of the Government of Israel and to give consideration also to their comments, given that a major part of the Agency's operations is conducted in areas occupied by Israel since 1967.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n (Signed<\/u>) Giorgio GIACOMELLI<\/p><\/div>\n Commissioner-General<\/p><\/div>\n The President of the <\/p><\/div>\n General Assembly <\/p><\/div>\n United Nations <\/p><\/div>\n New York<\/p><\/div>\n \n <\/p>\n LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION OF THE ±¬ÁÏÍøITED<\/p><\/div>\n NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR<\/p><\/div>\n EAST TO THE COMMISSIONER-GENERAL<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 28 August 1986<\/p><\/div>\n Dear Mr. Giacomelli,<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>At its regular meeting at Vienna on 28 August 1986, the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Advisory Commission considered your draft report on the Agency's operations during the period 1 July 1985 to 30 June 1986, which is to be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly at its forty-first session.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Commission reaffirms to the international community the importance of the Agency's continued fulfillment of its obligations to the Palestine refugees until a just solution to their problem is found, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. It further considers that the continued existence of the Agency contributes towards meeting the minimum needs of, and services to the Palestine refugees.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Realizing and understanding the financial straits of the Agency and the scarcity of resources available to it, the Commission supports the principle of long-term planning, takes note of the three-year plan that you put forward at the informal meeting of Governments on 22 and 23 May 1986 and urges you and the Working Group on the Financing of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA to continue your efforts to obtain additional contributions to finance it, while taking into consideration all remarks on the plan expressed by the members of the Advisory Commission.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>At the same time, it appeals to all Member States of the United Nations to contribute with sufficient generosity to enable ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA to continue to carry out its tasks, particularly health and education services. The Advisory Commission also wishes to draw your attention to General Assembly resolutions concerning the resumption of ration distribution to Palestine refugees throughout the area of operations.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In view of the continued suffering of the Palestine refugees in Lebanon, the threats to their lives and the destitution that they face because of their inability to leave their camps in search of work, the Commission considers that the Agency should continue to provide all its services to Palestine refugees.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Commission shares your concern for the conditions under which the Palestine refugees live, especially those in south Lebanon, and for the attacks and killings to which they and the Agency's staff are exposed.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Commission also notes with deep concern the increasing hardship in the conditions of refugees in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a result of the decline in economic activity in both of them, which also led to increasing pressures on the Agency to expand relief services.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Recalling the General Assembly resolutions requesting you to reunify your headquarters at Beirut as soon as practicable, the Commission asks that you keep this in mind as a matter of priority The Commission also notes the offer of the Government of Jordan to host the headquarters at Amman in the mean time.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Commission thanks the Arab host Governments for the valuable services that they continue to provide to the Palestine refugees in addition to the Agency's programmes. The Commission is also grateful to all Governments that continue to make annual contributions to the Agency. The Arab host Government is also hope that the Agency will continue to co-ordinate its programmes with them.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Commission also thanks the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his support and the efforts that he personally exerts to facilitate the Agency’s mission.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Finally, the Commission expresses its deep appreciation to you for the fruitful efforts that you have exerted to lead the Agency out of its financial crisis and welcomes you, wishing you success in fulfilling this difficult humanitarian task. Likewise, it thanks all the staff of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA.<\/p><\/div>\n (Signed<\/u>) Subhi ABU KHALIL<\/p><\/div>\n Chairman of the Advisory Commission<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli <\/p><\/div>\n Commissioner-General of the United Nations<\/p><\/div>\n Relief and Works Agency for Palestine <\/p><\/div>\n Refugees in the Near East<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n I. INTRODUCTION<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 1.\t<\/span>In this report, first as Commissioner-General of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA, I am pleased to report that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA has weathered the financial storm described by my predecessor in his report last year to the General Assembly, 1<\/u>\/ thanks to the several Governments who made special contributions and to austerity measures implemented within the organization. An addendum to the present annual report will show that the Agency's income and expenditure in 1986 are expected to be more nearly in balance than they were last year at this time. This balance has been maintained in large measure by considerable sacrifice on the part of out area staff, most of whom are Palestine refugees.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 2.\t<\/span>During the past year I have traveled widely, establishing contact with Governments, both donors and those that host the Palestine refugees, and I have had ample, opportunity to review with them the evolution of the Agency. In its over 36 years of service to the Palestine refugees, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA has developed from essentially an emergency relief operation into an organization dedicated largely to education and training. The next biggest programme is its health service. Today, relief services in terms of resources, rank third, reflecting the improved living conditions of most refugees. This improvement is uneven, however: many refugees in Lebanon are living under dangerous and harsh conditions and those of the Gaza Strip face worsening economic conditions.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 3.\t<\/span>This evolution in the focus of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA programmes from relief to education has led to contradictions along the way. First among them is the contradiction between the Agency's fixed financial commitments and the uncertain income derived from voluntary annual contributions. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's education and health programmes cannot be switched on or off at will according to the Agency's cash situation; they are continuing public services that Governments normally provide, and their scope is determined largely by the size of the population served. A Government providing such services can increase its income by various means when the population increases; ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA cannot. It can only cut expenses by cutting programmes to fit if its income is inadequate.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 4.\t<\/span>Members of the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Advisory Commission, at their regular meeting in 1985, endorsed a suggestion that a gathering of concerned Governments be convened for informal consultations on the financial plight of the Agency. Accordingly, I invited representatives of some 27 Governments, drawn from the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Advisory Commission, the Working Group on the Financing of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA and from the larger contributors, to meet at Vienna on 22 and 23 May 1986 for this purpose.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 5.\t<\/span>The May meeting focused on the analysis of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's current programmes outlined in a medium-term financial plan presented at the meeting. That plan, the Agency's first effort at multi-year planning, sought to project minimum financial requirements over the next three years (1987-1989). It forecast that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's income must increase by about 5 per cent a year over the period just to maintain present programmes. This conclusion results mainly from the anticipated increase in the number of children eligible to attend ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA schools. Every 50 pupils means an additional teacher; 100 more pupils means a new classroom, used by two groups of children in morning and afternoon shifts; and the annual increase in the Palestine refugee school population is measured not in hundreds, but in thousands.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 6.\t<\/span>The medium-term plan is based on the minimum income that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA needs to continue providing its present services. The Arab host Governments in the countries where ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA operates rightly point out that the services we provide do not cover all of the refugees' needs. I am fully aware of this and of the heavy financial burden that host Governments are bearing. There is much more that should be done and ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA would do more if it had the resources, but I am obliged to say that if the Agency were to prepare its budget on the basis of expanding its activities to cover the additional needs it could further complicate the difficulties experienced in just assuring adequate resources to maintain present programme levels.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 7.\t<\/span>Each delegation at the May meeting reaffirmed its commitment to the Palestine refugees. This assurance should dispel the fears of some that the international community intends to abandon its responsibility toward them. Delegates recognized the need for the Agency to continue its operations, both for humanitarian and political reasons. They understand also that, the Agency's role in both of these areas contributes to stability and by so doing facilitates the task of those who seek a just and lasting peace in the region.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 8.\t<\/span>Most delegates clearly believed that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's education programme should continue to have the highest priority. They noted that graduates from the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA professional and vocational training centres are playing an important part in the economic and social development of the region, and they encouraged the Agency to expand its vocational training programme.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 9.\t<\/span>Donors confirmed their willingness to go on supporting the Agency, and I was heartened in particular by the readiness of some Governments to make an extra effort. Many participants endorsed the validity of the Agency's multi-year financial planning. They emphasized the need to broaden support for ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA by increasing the number of contributors and the size of contributions.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 10.\t<\/span>During my travels and contacts with government and non-government officials, I am happy to report I found great sympathy and support for ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA activities, but it was made abundantly clear that nearly every Government has budgetary problems, which constrain the resources available for contribution to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA. A number of Governments have expressed a desire to increase their level of support; others have genuinely regretted being unable to do so at this time. I understand the problems facing these Governments, but I must continue to urge that all consider carefully the consequences, both for the refugees and for their own interests, should the Agency be forced to turn over to others responsibility for some of its services. Our fund-raising efforts, in line with the recommendation of the Advisory Commission, will continue and as the present report is being written plans are in process for special fund-raising missions to visit a number of capitals later this year.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 11. \t<\/span>Much is said in this report about the tragic situation in Lebanon, where a seemingly endless cycle of violence is taking a terrible toll among the Lebanese and refugee populations alike. I am proud to report that despite the numerous difficulties encountered daily, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA has been able to carry out its mission in Lebanon thanks to the selfless dedication of our staff, both area and international. These men and women have been constantly exposed to danger and during the year covered by the present annual report 5 ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA employees were killed, bringing the total during the past 4 years to 22 staff members killed, 17 wounded and 8 missing. The latter includes the kidnapped British journalist, Alec Collett, whose fate remains unknown.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 12. \t<\/span>Others will long bear physical or mental scars in witness of their service in Lebanon. Despite this high price that must be paid, we are resolved to pursue ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA operations in Lebanon for as long as it is humanly possible to do, so. One essential pre-condition for this will be the assurance that I have I sought from the Government of Lebanon that the Agency’s staff will be able to travel freely and safely throughout the country in carrying out their humanitarian task.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 13. \t<\/span>The plight of refugees living in the Gaza Strip is another situation to which I would like to invite Member States' attention. There, in an area of some 370 square kilometers, live more than half a million residents – two thirds of them refugees – resulting in a population density of nearly 1,400 people per square kilometer. There is a serious shortage of adequate housing and increasing numbers of refugees are finding it difficult to obtain employment. There is a growing sense of despair and hopelessness among the refugees, one consequence of which is the increasing and more strident demand upon the Agency for additional services, which limited resources make impossible to meet.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 14. \t<\/span>Due to declining economic activity in the region, unemployment has been added to other hardships faced by refugees in the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, there is added pressure upon the Agency to extend special hardship assistance to families experiencing economic difficulties. There is also heightened demand for ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA’s assistance in obtaining employment, either with the Agency in the Gaza Strip or elsewhere.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 15. \t<\/span>Another alarming development in the Gaza Strip is the increasing salinity of water supplies. Because of expanded irrigation and other engineering works, some experts estimate that twice as much water is being pumped out of the ground as is flowing in. This fact, coupled with the lack of satisfactory waste disposal facilities, heightens the danger of pollution from seepage in an area where parts of some camps already suffer from unhealthy environmental conditions. Continued settlement activity in the Gaza Strip tends to compound further unsatisfactory living conditions by reducing the amount of land available for agriculture, and by increasing the pressure on the insufficient water supply.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 16. \t<\/span>I believe I have a duty to draw the attention of Member States to the deteriorating conditions in the Gaza Strip and urge that the international community give serious consideration to what can be done to ease conditions there. This problem warrants immediate attention.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 17. \t<\/span>±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's mandate will expire on 30 June 1987. I believe ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's services to refugees should be continued until a peaceful settlement is achieved and recommend that members of the General Assembly extend the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA mandate for a further period. If this is done, I hope that members will, at the same time, address again the question of the resources required so that ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA will not have to face the financial difficulties of the recent past. With a more stable financial basis, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA can continue to play its part in creating the conditions in which lasting peace can be sought and found in the Middle East.<\/p><\/div>\n II. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA OPERATIONS<\/p><\/div>\n A. The historical setting<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 18. \t<\/span>In 1948-1949, about three quarters of a million Palestinians became refugees in the Near East as a result of hostilities before and after part of the mandated territory of Palestine became the State of Israel.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 19. \t<\/span>±¬ÁÏÍø General Assembly, in resolution <\/span>194 (III)<\/span> of 11 December 1948, outlined a solution to the Palestine refugee question in which it resolved, <\/span>inter alia<\/u><\/span>, that "refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date and that compensation should be paid to the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under <\/span> principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible".<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 20. \t<\/span>Emergency assistance to the refugees was initially provided by international voluntary agencies. When it became apparent that these refugees would be unable to return to their homes at an early date, the General Assembly, by resolution 302 IV of 8 December 1949, voted to set up the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (±¬ÁÏÍøRWA) to carry out relief and works programmes. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA began operations on 1 May 1950.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 21. \t<\/span>Early works programmes, designed to facilitate rehabilitation of the refugees, proved impossible both because of prevailing regional economic conditions and because of refugee and other resistance to measures thought to be leading to their resettlement without the commitment of the international community having been fulfilled. Direct relief assistance, which dominated the Agency's activities at the outset, gradually diminished in relative importance over the years as more refugees became self-supporting, largely though programmes of general, and vocational education.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 22. \t<\/span>The increasing focus on education, including in particular vocational training, has meant that the overwhelming majority of the refugees are able to avail themselves of existing employment opportunities, both in the areas where they reside and throughout the Arab world. They have thereby made an important contribution to the economic life of the region.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 23. \t<\/span>As resolution 194 (III) could not be implemented, the General Assembly has regularly renewed the mandate of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA. Its main role evolved and is now to provide services in education, relief and health care, which closely resemble in quality and quantity the services offered by national Governments to non-refugee communities in the Near East. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's present mandate expires on 30 June 1987, and it will be for the forty-first session of the General Assembly to address the question of an extension.<\/p><\/div>\n B. Eligibility, registration and camp administration<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 24. \t<\/span>Eligibility for ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA services is limited to registered Palestine refugees, defined by the Agency as persons who had been living in Palestine for at least two years prior to the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict and who, as a result of it had lost their homes and means of livelihood and were in need. To be eligible to receive ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA services registered refugees and their descendants must be living in the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA area of operations – Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 25. \t<\/span>In addition, the Agency also distributes food rations provided by the Government of Jordan to some 193,000 persons displaced as the result of the 1967 hostilities and the occupation by Israel of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 26. \t<\/span>The number of refugees registered with the Agency on 30 June 1986 was 2,145,794 (see table 1). Of these 1,812,127 were eligible for all Agency services; the remainder were eligible for limited services only.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 27. \t<\/span>Less than one third of the refugees are registered as living in camps (see table 2). Persons displaced as a result of hostilities in 1967 and a small number of other unregistered persons also reside in the camps. The Agency does not administer the refugee camps and not responsible for the maintenance of law order. It provides health, education and relief services to refugees living in and outside camps, maintains the installations required for the provision of these services and furnishes other municipal-type facilities in some camps.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 28. \t<\/span>Over the years many self-help projects aimed at improving facilities and camp living conditions have been completed. The Agency contributed part of the cost of these projects. The rest of the cost has been met, in the form of labor materials or cash, by the refugees themselves and by communities, Governments, municipalities or other sources.<\/p><\/div>\n C. Highlights of operations in 1985-1986<\/u><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 29. \t<\/span>In the reporting period, the situation in Lebanon remained the most serious operational problem facing the Agency. Since 1 July 1995, Palestine refugees, like others, were affected by the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Lebanon and have suffered many casualties. ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA operations were particularly affected by fighting and violence in the Saida area, at Tripoli and at Beirut, where the refugee camps of Shatila and Burj el-Barajneh have been the targets of repeated attacks. Sporadic Israeli air raids have also caused death and destruction among refugees.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 30.\t<\/span>In spite of such grave difficulties, the ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA staff in Lebanon succeeded in keeping most Agency installations open and normal services running, except when installations were under fire, had been destroyed or when access to them was prevented by battle. Once an installation was damaged, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA sought other accommodation or repaired the damage while, whenever possible, continuing to provide services through alternative facilities. Security conditions have prevented the Agency from reopening its Vocational Training Centre at Siblin near Saida. 2<\/u>\/ Tentative provision has been made in the Agency's 1987 budget to reopen the Centre should security conditions permit.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 31.\t<\/span>In addition to regular operations, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA provided emergency assistance to refugees displaced during and immediately after periods of heavy fighting. It also helped refugees living in camps to repair their battle-damaged shelters.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 32. \t<\/span>The chaotic, situation at Beirut also had an increasingly serious impact on ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's ability to supervise certain operations from its field Office. There were frequent periods when staff were unable to get to work. In an effort to ease that problem the Commissioner- General decided to open a small sub-office at Larnacea, Cyprus, in 1985, to which 2 international and 12 area staff were subsequently transferred. This led to an improvement in the ability of the Agency to carry out basic administrative and financial services for the benefit of the refugees in Lebanon.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 33. \t<\/span>During the reporting period, 5 ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA employees were killed in Lebanon, 3 were seriously wounded and 18 kidnapped or detained.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 34. \t<\/span>The Commissioner-General's decision to implement a number of austerity measures in 1985, as part of the effort to reduce the serious gap between anticipated expenditures and income, was a matter of great concern to the refugees and to host Governments, even though the level of basic programmes was maintained. Although they continue to, press their view that the Agency should do more for the refugees and should restore the basic ration programme suspended in 1982 due to financial constraints, the host Governments have been helpful in assisting ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA to overcome its difficulties. For example, when the Agency experienced a critical shortage of flour in late 1985, the Government of Jordan loaned it sufficient stocks to maintain distribution to special Hardship Cases in Jordan until new supplies could be obtained. The Government of Jordan also provided effective support for the Commissioner-General's efforts to raise the additional funds needed to avoid further cost-saving measures.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 35. \t<\/span>Owing to lack of funds, in recent years the Agency has generally been able to carry out only the most essential maintenance work to buildings and installations. As a result many have deteriorated.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 36.\t<\/span>In June 1986, the Syrian Government responded to the Agency's requests for a more favorable exchange rate, advising that henceforth the tourist rate of exchange would apply to United Nations transactions. In so doing, the Syrian Arab Republic made a valuable contribution to reducing the projected shortfall in ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA's 1986 income and made it easier for prospective donors to fund much-needed construction of new school and other facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 37.\t<\/span>In 1983, the Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip began applying certain 1960 Egyptian laws requiring permits from local authorities to build within refugee camps. These laws had never been applied to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA nor had they ever been intended to apply to ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA when originally promulgated, a view confirmed in writing by the Egyptian Government. Following interruption of several Agency construction projects, agreement was eventually achieved on practical arrangements calling for co-ordination of construction plans with the local authorities but without subjecting Agency operations to outside control. During the reporting year, this requirement was expanded to include co-ordination of the Agency's plans to repair and renovate shelters of Special Hardship families. This has been a source of some difficulty, especially where the refugees concerned live in places that the authorities are trying to clear by persuading families to move to government housing projects. These poor refugee families cannot afford to build new houses elsewhere and therefore need the Agency's minimal assistance in repairing their present shelters.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 38. \t<\/span>After prolonged negotiations between the Governments of Egypt and Israel, a solution was finally found to the problem of the 4,600 refugees left stranded on the Egyptian side of the international boundary at Rafah when Israel withdrew from the Sinai in April 1982. The solution provides for a phased return of the refugees to the Gaza Strip for settlement in the Tel al-Sultan housing project near Rafah. Financial help will be given to the refugees by the Egyptian Government while the Israeli occupation authorities will provide land and facilities. The combined aid falls short of the amount estimated to be required for a refugee family to build a suitable new home.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n <\/td>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n <\/td>\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n \n \n \n \n \n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p><\/div>\n