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STORY: UN / KRÄHENBÜHL
TRT: 01:59
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 25 JUNE 2018, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
25 JUNE 2018, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner General, UNRWA:
“We began the year with a shortfall that was built into the budget, of 146 million dollars and then had our single largest donor, the country that had been historically the most generous and predictable to UNRWA, the United States, reduce its contribution by 300 US dollars. So, we suddenly found ourselves with a shortfall of 446 million dollars affecting the whole range of our services potentially, from education, healthcare, to emergency services.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner General, UNRWA:
“Whilst historically humanitarian funding had always been protected in Washington, and that was a bipartisan - I think - consensus, it was now decided that humanitarian funding would be impacted by this decision. Of course, from the organization that I represent, and from its perspective, I regret that because it has a hugely detrimental impact and it of course also doesn’t allow us to pursue many of the many positive things that we have done with US support over the years. So, yes, we will continue of course to engage with US administration, it’s very important to keep the cannels open and I am always ready for any meetings in that regard.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner General, UNRWA:
“Palestinian refugees do not see a solution for their plight on the horizon. It’s now been over 25 years since the Oslo peace process and peace agreement and the generation that has grown up since, which now makes up the majority of Palestine refugees, really do not see a prospect on the horizon for them, either politically or personally.”
8. Wide shot, end of presser
Ahead of a pledging conference for the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbühl today (25 June) said that after the United States reduced its contribution to the agency, “we suddenly found ourselves with a shortfall of 446 million dollars affecting the whole range of our services potentially, from education, healthcare, to emergency services.”
Krähenbühl noted that the year began “with a shortfall that was built into the budget, of 146 million dollars and then had our single largest donor, the country that had been historically the most generous and predictable to UNRWA, the United States, reduce its contribution by 300 US dollars.”
The Commissioner General regret at the “hugely detrimental impact” of the US decision, but added that UNRWA “will continue of course to engage with US administration.”
Krähenbühl said, “Palestinian refugees do not see a solution for their plight on the horizon. It’s now been over 25 years since the Oslo peace process and peace agreement and the generation that has grown up since, which now makes up the majority of Palestine refugees, really do not see a prospect on the horizon for them, either politically or personally.”
The Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly (GA) for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to UNRWA will meet today at the Trusteeship Council Chamber of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The conference, established by GA Resolution 1729 is the primary forum for the announcement by Member States of their financial support for UNRWA, in solidarity with Palestine refugees.
