9 Mar 2012

UN / UNRWA BRICS FUNDING

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi today appealed to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and other emerging markets to plug a $75 million budgetary shortfall. UNTV

Posted at: March 9, 2012 2:40 pm

Duration: 02:07

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STORY: UN / UNRWA BRICS FUNDING 
TRT: 2.07
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 9 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2011, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

9 MARCH 2012, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, press conference
3. Cutaway, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
"The current shortfall against that budget - projected shortfall for 2012 - is approximately US$75 million. So we need that money that has not been pledged by any donor at the moment to finish the year and be able, you know, to keep the schools running and the health clinics running. We are talking to a number of donors of course, but it is a strong appeal today for that hole, for that gap, to be filled."
5. Cutaway, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
"I hope Brazil becomes one our traditional donors, as we call those that every year contribute. We think that because of its importance, growing economic and political importance, because of its strategic interest in the Middle East and increased involvement, Brazil can play a very significant role also of leadership of other Latin American countries."
7. Cutaway, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
"Where I would like to have China more involved is financial support. China is not among the major donors of UNRWA and once again, just like for Brazil, I hope that as a very prominent state among the BRICS countries China can also accompany its very good political support with some financial contributions as well."
9. Cutaway, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA):
"There has been no instance of involvement and my appeal is precisely for this situation to continue. It's very, very important that the Palestinians continue as a group of vulnerable refugees to be, uh, uh, isolated and to remain outside of the conflict. There hasn't been so far any instance otherwise."
11. Cutaway, journalists 
12. Wide shot, ending of press conference

STORYLINE:

Grandi said the current projected shortfall in the Agency's core US$600 million budget was $75 million.

He said that money was needed to finish the year and "to keep the schools running and the health clinics running," making a strong appeal for "that hole to be filled" by the BRICS countries.

South Africa and India make regular, if not particularly large, contributions to UNRWA and in the last two years Brazil had also made notable contributions.

He hoped Brazil would become a permanent funder. "We think because of its increase … Brazil can play a very sign role also of leadership among the other Latin American countries," he said.

Similarly, he suggested that China match its political support for UNRWA with funding.

"China is not among the major donors of UNRWA and once again, just like for Brazil, I hope that as a very prominent state among the BRICS countries China can also accompany its very good political support with some financial contributions as well," he said.

The Commissioner-General said, in response to questions, that he knew of no instance of involvement by Syria's nearly half-million registered Palestinian refugees in the recent unrest there, emphasizing how important it was for them, "as a group of vulnerable refugees," to "remain outside of the conflict."

UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some 5 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory. The Agency is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states.