More than 100 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are involved in terrorism, some holding simultaneous positions within Hamas and the Agency, Israel’s delegate told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today while representatives of States in the region and beyond expressed concern about that country’s systematic disinformation campaign against the Agency.
The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until 15 November 2025 to maintain the Force’s authorized troop and police ceilings and call for a strategic review of UNISFA’s effectiveness, strategic objectives and alignment with the evolving regional security situation.
The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today approved two resolutions by recorded vote, including one requesting that the Government of Israel assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to Lebanon and other countries affected by an oil slick on their shores, for costs of repairing environmental damage caused by the destruction.
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved 11 draft resolutions today, including texts on the right to food, the right to development, refugee protection and the impact of unilateral coercive measures on humanitarian assistance.
The collapse of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will threaten lives, regional stability and the integrity of the multilateral system, its chief warned the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today, pointing to recent legislation passed by the Israeli Parliament that could end the Agency’s operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in less than three months.
Delegates at the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today threw their support behind the Secretariat’s request for a $3.07 million intervention to keep the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone running smoothly in 2025, while raising concern over the current funding arrangement.
The General Assembly today elected members to several of its subsidiary bodies and committees and postponed a vote to appoint members to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
The Security Council today decided to renew for 12 months a travel ban and assets freeze imposed on certain designated individuals and entities in Yemen and to extend for 13 months the mandate of the Panel of Experts tasked with assisting the Council’s Yemen Sanctions Committee.
Delegates at the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today considered the persistent cost overruns gripping the Strategic Heritage Plan renovation project at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
From addressing transnational challenges to supporting national peacebuilding priorities, special political missions play a key role in the Organization’s peacebuilding architecture, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it approved a draft resolution encouraging those missions to continue fostering inclusive partnerships with regional and subregional organizations as well as work closely with host Governments.
