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Briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The President: In accordance with rule 39 of the Council¡¯s provisional rules of procedure, I invite
Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to participate in this meeting.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda.

I now give the floor to Mr. Grandi

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With regard to Palestinian refugees, of whom there are more than 5 million in the region, we call for
a realistic, equitable, just and lasting solution within the framework of a future Israeli-Palestinian agreement,?based on internationally agreed parameters. In the?meantime, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency?for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA) must continue to receive our full support in the context of?the suspension of the American contribution. For its part, France has doubled its contribution to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA this year.

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I have two final points. I thank the representative of France for having mentioned the necessary support
to our sister agency the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA). It is very important. The stability of the?region also hinges on the possibility for the refugee
population, assisted by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA, to remain in schools?and to have access to jobs and health services. As a former Commissioner General, I not only thank him?for that but also because the countries that are affected by that unresolved issue are those that are also hosting Syrian refugees. It is a combination that needs to be kept in mind in providing support to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA.

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