UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 720

A

The General Assembly

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, 393 (V) of 2 December 1950, 513 (VI) of 26 January 1952 and 614 (VII) of 6 November 1952,

Having examined the report 1/ of the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the special report 2/ of the Director and the Advisory Commission of that Agency,

Noting that programme agreements envisaging the commitment of approximately $120 million have been signed by UNRWA with the governments of several Near Eastern countries, pursuant to the plan endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 513 (VI), but that expectations as regards the execution of the projects programme have not been realized,

Noting also that the situation of the refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern,

1. Decides, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III), or to the provisions of paragraph 4 of resolution 393 (V), that the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East shall be extended until 30 June 1955, and that its programme shall be again subject to review at the ninth session of the General Assembly;

2. Authorizes the Agency to adopt a budget for relief amounting to $24.8 million for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1954, subject to such adjustments as may be attributable to refugee employment on projects, or as may be necessary to maintain adequate standards, and to adopt a provisional budget for relief of $18 million for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1955;

3. Considers that the projects fund previously authorized by the General Assembly in paragraph 2 of resolution 513 (VI) should be maintained at $200 million until 30 June 1955, and urges UNRWA and the governments of the Near Eastern countries concerned to continue to seek acceptable projects to enable the fund to be utilized for the purposes for which it is intended;

4. Requests the Negotiating Committee for Extra-Budgetary Funds to seek the funds required to meet the current needs of the relief programmes and to invite governments to take into account the need for the additional pledges which will be required to meet the total programme now established at $292.8 million.

B

Having noted that the present membership of the advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, established pursuant to paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, is composed of representatives of Egypt, France, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America,

Noting further that it is in the general interest that other contributing countries join the Advisory Commission,

Authorizes the Advisory Commission to increase its membership by not more than two additional members.

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1/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Eighth Session, Supplement No. 12.

2/ See document A/2470/Add.1.

Sources: The United Nations