United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
| Publisher | UN General Assembly |
| Author | UN General Assembly (37th sess. : 1982-1983) |
| Publication Date | 16 December 1982 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | A/RES/37/120 |
| Reference | 37 |
| Cite as | UN General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East., 16 December 1982, A/RES/37/120, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f18e40.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
A. Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of15 December 1970, 2791 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 2964 (XXVII) of13 December 1972, 3090 (XXVIII) of 7 December 1973, 3330 (XXIX) of17 December 1974, 3419 D (XXX) of 8 December 1975, 31/15 C of23 November 1976, 32/90 D of 13 December 1977, 33/112 D of 18 December 1978,34/52 D of 23 November 1979, 35/13 D of 3 November 1980 and 36/146 E of16 December 1981, Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982, whereby the GeneralAssembly took note of the special report of the Working Group on the Financingof the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in theNear East and adopted the recommendations contained therein, Having considered the report of the Working Group on the Financing of theUnited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the NearEast, Taking into account the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, and his specialreport issued on 28 September 1982, Gravely concerned at the critical financial situation of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, whichhas already reduced the essential minimum services being provided to thePalestine refugees and which threatens even greater reductions in the future, Emphasizing the urgent need for extraordinary efforts in order tomaintain, at least at their present minimum level, the activities of theUnited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing of the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for itsefforts to assist in ensuring the Agency's financial security;
2. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group;
3. Requests the Working Group to continue its efforts, in co-operationwith the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General of the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for thefinancing of the Agency for a further period of one year;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services andassistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work.
B. Assistance to persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/146 D of 16 December 1981 and all previousresolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, and his specialreport covering the period from 6 June to 31 August 1982, Concerned about the continued human suffering resulting from thehostilities in the Middle East,1. Reaffirms its resolution 36/146 D and all previous resolutions onthe question;
2. Endorses, bearing in mind the objectives of those resolutions, theefforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and WorksAgency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to providehumanitarian assistance as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as atemporary measure, to other persons in the area who are at present displacedand in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 andsubsequent hostilities;
3. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations andindividuals to contribute generously for the above purposes to the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and tothe other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned.
C. University of Jerusalem for Palestine refugees
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/146 G of 16 December 1981, Having examined with appreciation the report of the Secretary-Generalconcerning the establishment of a university at Jerusalem in pursuance ofparagraphs 5 and 6 of resolution 36/146 G, Having also examined with appreciation the report of theCommissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East, covering the period from 1 July 1981 to30 June 1982,1. Commends the constructive efforts made by the Secretary-General, theCommissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East, the Council of the United NationsUniversity and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization, which worked diligently towards the implementation of GeneralAssembly resolution 36/146 G;
2. Further commends the close co-operation of the competent educationalauthorities concerned;
3. Emphasizes the need for strengthening the educational system in theArab territories occupied since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem, andspecifically the need for the establishment of the proposed university;
4. Endorses the various steps recommended in the report of theSecretary-General, including the creation of a voluntary fund to beadministered by the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development ofthe Secretariat, in order to provide graduate and post-doctoral fellowshipsfor a highly trained core faculty of the proposed university;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessarymeasures, including the conduct of a functional feasibility study, forestablishing the University of Jerusalem in accordance with therecommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General;
6. Calls upon Israel as the occupying Power to co-operate in theimplementation of the present resolution and to remove the hindrances which ithas put in the way of establishing the University of Jerusalem;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly atits thirty-eighth session on the progress made in the implementation of thepresent resolution.
D. Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19 November 1948 on assistance toPalestine refugees, Recalling also its resolutions 35/13 B of 3 November 1980 and 36/146 H of16 December 1981, Cognizant of the fact that the Palestine refugees have, for the lastthree decades, lost their lands and means of livelihood, Having examined with appreciation the report of the Secretary-Generalon offers of grants and scholarships for higher education for Palestinerefugees and on the scope of the implementation of resolution 36/146 H, Having also examined the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, dealing with thissubject, Noting that fewer than one per thousand of the Palestine refugee studentshave the chance to continue higher education, including vocational training, Noting also that over the past several years the number of scholarshipsoffered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugeesin the Near East has dwindled to half of what it was because of the Agency'srecurring budgetary difficulties,1. Urges all States to respond to the appeal contained in GeneralAssembly resolution 32/90 F of 13 December 1977 in a manner commensurate withthe needs of Palestine refugees for higher education and vocational training;
2. Strongly appeals to all States, specialized agencies andnon-governmental organizations to augment the special allocations for grantsand scholarships to Palestine refugees in addition to their contributions tothe regular budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for PalestineRefugees in the Near East;
3. Expresses its appreciation to all Governments, specialized agenciesand non-governmental organizations that responded favourably to GeneralAssembly resolution 36/146 H;
4. Invites the relevant United Nations agencies to continue to expandthe inclusion, within their respective spheres of competence, of assistancefor higher education for Palestine refugee students;
5. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and the United NationsUniversity to contribute generously to the Palestinian universities in theterritories occupied by Israel since 1967;
6. Also appeals to all States, specialized agencies and otherinternational bodies to contribute towards the establishment of vocationaltraining centres for Palestine refugees;
7. Requests the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for PalestineRefugees in the Near East to act as recipient and trustee for such specialallocations and scholarships and to award them to qualified Palestine refugeecandidates;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly atits thirty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.
E. Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip
The General Assembly, Recalling Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 2792 C (XXVI) of6 December 1971, 2963 C (XXVII) of 13 December 1972, 3089 C (XXVIII) of7 December 1973, 3331 D (XXIX) of 17 December 1974, 3419 C (XXX) of8 December 1975, 31/15 E of 23 November 1976, 32/90 C of 13 December 1977,33/112 E of 18 December 1978, 34/52 F of 23 November 1979, 35/13 F of3 November 1980 and 36/146 A of 16 December 1981, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, and the report of theSecretary-General of 17 September 1982, Recalling the provisions of paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III) of11 December 1948 and considering that measures to resettle Palestine refugeesin the Gaza Strip away from the homes and property from which they weredisplaced constitute a violation of their inalienable right of return, Alarmed by the reports received from the Commissioner-General that theIsraeli occupying authorities persist in their policy of demolishing, onpunitive grounds, shelters occupied by refugee families,1. Reiterates its demand that Israel desist from the removal andresettlement of Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip and from the destructionof their shelters;
2. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with theCommissioner- General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East, to report to the General Assembly, beforethe opening of its thirty-eighth session, on Israel's compliance withparagraph 1 above.
F. Resumption of the ration distribution to Palestine refugees
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/146 F of 16 December 1981 and all previousresolutions on the question, including resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, and his specialreport covering the period from 6 June to 31 August 1982, Deeply concerned at the interruption by the United Nations Relief andWorks Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, owing to financialdifficulties, of the general ration distribution to Palestine refugees in allfields in the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan and the Syrian ArabRepublic,1. Calls upon all Governments, as a matter of urgency, to make the mostgenerous efforts possible to meet the interrupted needs of the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, particularlyin the light of the interruption by the Agency of the general rationdistribution to Palestine refugees in all fields, and therefore urgesnon-contributing Governments to contribute regularly and contributingGovernments to consider increasing their regular contributions;
2. Requests the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief andWorks Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to resume on a continuingbasis and as soon as possible the interrupted general ration distribution toPalestine refugees in all fields.
G. Population and refugees displaced since 1967
The General Assembly, Recalling Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967,2452 A (XXIII) of 19 December 1968, 2535 B (XXIV) of 10 December 1969, 2672 D(XXV) of 8 December 1970, 2792 E (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 2963 C andD (XXVII) of 13 December 1972, 3089 C (XXVIII) of 7 December 1973, 333l D(XXIX) of 17 December 1974, 3419 C (XXX) of 8 December 1975, 31/15 D of 23November 1976, 32/90 E of 13 December 1977, 33/112 F of 18 December 1978,34/52 E of 23 November 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/13 E of 3 November1980 and 36/146 B of 16 December 1981, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, and the report of theSecretary-General of 20 September 1982,1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of all displaced inhabitants toreturn to their homes or former places of residence in the territoriesoccupied by Israel since 1967 and declares once more that any attempt torestrict, or to attach conditions to, the free exercise of the right of returnby any displaced person is inconsistent with their inalienable right andinadmissible;
2. Considers any and all agreements embodying any restriction on orcondition for the return of the displaced inhabitants as null and void;
3. Strongly deplores the continued refusal of the Israeli authoritiesto take steps for the return of the displaced inhabitants;
4. Calls once more upon Israel:
(a) To take immediate steps for the return of all displaced inhabitants;
(b) To desist from all measures that obstruct the return of thedisplaced inhabitants, including measures affecting the physical anddemographic structure of the occupied territories;
5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with theCommissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East, to report to the General Assembly beforethe opening of its thirty-eighth session on Israel's compliance withparagraph 4 above.
H. Revenues derived from Palestine refugee properties
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 35/13 A to F of 3 November 1980, 36/146 C of16 December 1981 and all its previous resolutions on the question, includingresolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of 28 September 1982, Taking note also of the report of the United Nations ConciliationCommission for Palestine, covering the period from 1 October 1981 to30 September 1982, Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and theprinciples of international law uphold the principle that no one shall bearbitrarily deprived of one's private property, Considering that the Palestinian Arab refugees are entitled to theirproperty and to the income derived from their property, in conformity with theprinciples of justice and equity, Recalling, in particular, its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, inwhich it directed the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, inconsultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for theprotection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine Arabrefugees, Taking note of the completion of the programme of identification andevaluation of Arab property, as announced by the United Nations ConciliationCommission for Palestine in its twenty-second progress report, of11 May 1964, and of the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arabowners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particularsof Arab property,1. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, inconsultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine,for the protection and administration of Arab property, assets and propertyrights in Israel, and to establish a fund for the receipt of income derivedtherefrom, on behalf of their rightful owners;
2. Calls once again upon the Governments concerned, especially Israel,to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in theimplementation of the present resolution;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly atits thirty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.
I. Special identification cards to all Palestine refugees
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/146 F of 16 December 1981 and all previousresolutions on the question, Recalling, in particular, its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948and 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, Recognizing the concern of the United Nations with the problem of thePalestine refugees,1. Reiterates its regret that paragraph 11 of General Assemblyresolution 194 (III) has not thus far been implemented;
2. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation with theCommissioner- General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East, to issue identification cards to allPalestine refugees and their descendants, irrespective of whether they arerecipients or not of rations and services from the Agency, as well as to alldisplaced persons and to those who have been prevented from returning to theirhome as a result of the 1967 hostilities, and their descendants;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly atits thirty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.
J. Protection of Palestine refugees
The General Assembly, Recalling Security Council resolutions 508 (1982) of 5 June 1982,509 (1982) of 6 June 1982, 511 (1982) of 18 June 1982, 512 (1982) of19 June 1982, 513 (1982) of 4 July 1982, 515 (1982) of 29 July 1982, 517(1982) of 4 August 1982, 518 (1982) of 12 August 1982, 519 (1982) of 17 August1982, 520 (1982) of 17 September 1982 and 523 (1982) of 18 October 1982, Recalling General Assembly resolutions ES-7/5 of 26 June 1982, ES-7/6 of24 August 1982, ES-7/8 of 19 August 1982 and ES-7/9 of 24 September 1982, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982, and his specialreport covering the period from 6 June to 31 August 1982, Referring to the humanitarian principles of the Geneva Conventionrelative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to the obligations arising from the regulations annexed to theHague Convention of 1907, Deeply distressed at the sufferings of the Palestinians resulting from the Israeli invasion of Lebanon,1. Urges the Secretary-General, in consultation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and pending the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian and other Arabterritories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, to undertake effective measures to guarantee the safety and security and the legal and human rights of the Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories;
2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to release forthwith alldetained Palestine refugees, including the employees of the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East;
3. Also calls upon Israel to desist forthwith from preventing thosePalestinians registered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East as refugees in Lebanon from returning totheir camps in Lebanon;
4. Further calls upon Israel to allow the resumption of health,medical, educational and social services rendered by the United Nations Reliefand Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to the Palestiniansin the refugee camps in southern Lebanon;
5. Requests the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief andWorks Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to co-ordinate hisactivities in rendering these services with the Government of Lebanon, thehost country;
6. Urges the Commissioner-General to provide housing, in consultationwith the Government of Lebanon, to the Palestine refugees whose houses weredemolished or razed by the Israeli forces, in order to protect them from theseverity of the weather;
7. Requests the Commissioner-General, in consultation with theGovernment of Lebanon, to prepare a report on the totality of the damagecaused to the Palestine refugees and their property and to the Agency'sfacilities, as well as those of other international bodies, as a result of theIsraeli aggression;
8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with theCommissioner- General, to report to the General Assembly before the opening ofits thirty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.
K. Assistance to Palestine refugees
The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/146 F of 16 December 1981 and all previousresolutions on the question, including resolution 194 (III) of11 December 1948, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,covering the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982,1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugeesas provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) hasnot been effected, that no substantial progress has been made in the programmeendorsed by the Assembly in paragraph 2 of its resolution 513 (VI) of26 January 1952 for the reintegration of refugees either by repatriation orresettlement and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continues tobe a matter of serious concern;
2. Expresses its thanks to the Commissioner-General and to all thestaff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees inthe Near East, recognizing that the Agency is doing all it can within thelimits of available resources, and also expresses its thanks to thespecialized agencies and private organizations for their valuable work inassisting the refugees;
3. Reiterates its request that the headquarters of the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East should berelocated to its former site within its area of operations as soon aspracticable;
4. Notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commissionfor Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in theimplementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) andrequests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementationof that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but not laterthan 1 October 1983;
5. Directs attention to the continuing seriousness of the financialposition of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugeesin the Near East, as outlined in the report of the Commissioner-General;
6. Notes with concern that, despite the commendable and successfulefforts of the Commissioner-General to collect additional contributions, thisincreased level of income to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East is still insufficient to cover essentialbudget requirements in the present year and that, at currently foreseen levelsof giving, deficits will recur each year;
7. Calls upon all Governments as a matter of urgency to make the mostgenerous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, particularlyin the light of the budgetary deficit projected in the report of theCommissioner-General, and therefore urges non-contributing Governmentsto contribute regularly and contributing Governments to considerincreasing their regular contributions.