蘑菇视频

1 August 1983

Note: Excerpts from the report are reproduced below:

I. Introduction

Object of the report

1. The General Assembly by its Decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982 requested the Joint Inspection Unit to carry out a comprehensive review” of 蘑菇视频RWA’s “organization, budget and operations with a view to assisting the Commissioner-General to make the most effective and economical use of the limited funds available to the Agency”.

2. The wording of this sentence and, indeed, of the other parts of the Decision which call upon governments to “contribute more generously”, to “increase contributions” or to “start contributing” would appear to indicate that one of the main issues of concern to the General Assembly, in inviting JIU to review 蘑菇视频RWA’s activities, was the Agency’s financing problems and the cost effectiveness of the
use of its scarce resources.

3. In addressing the problem from this angle, J1U was soon to discover that the financial constraints were the source of serious difficulties for the fulfilment of 蘑菇视频RWA’s mandate. It seemed obvious that helping 蘑菇视频RWA to have the best possible management would reinforce the confidence of member States in its effectiveness, improve its image and credibility and facilitate regular and stable financing.

4. In this report, JIU examines the results obtained by 蘑菇视频RWA through the execution of its three main programmes on education, health and relief (chapter 11). An examination of operational difficulties and methods leads to the problems of budget and finance, personnel, structures and decentralization (chapter Ill), and issues related to 蘑菇视频RWA’s mandate and institutional setting (chapter IV). Conclusions and recommendations are presented in chapter V.

Preliminary remarks

5. Before entering the subject matter, a few basic facts about 蘑菇视频RWA are presented:

(a) 蘑菇视频RWA was established by General Assembly resolution 302(IV) of B December 1949 and became operational early in 1950, taking over the tasks and responsibilities of the 蘑菇视频RPR (United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees) which had already started, in co-operation with other United Nations system and voluntary agencies, to provide e-essential services to Palestine refugees, without prejudice to paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194(111) which provided for the repatriation and compensation of Palestine refugees choosing not to return. Under the founding resolution, 蘑菇视频RWA’s functions were primarily to carry out relief and work programmes in collaboration with local governments. The mandate to provide assistance in the areas of health, education and welfare – although implicit since such services were already provided by 蘑菇视频RPR – first appears in General Assembly resolution 513(VI) of 1952. These services were to become the backbone of the Agency’s activities since it gradually became clear that the public works programme could not be implemented

(b) The Agency’s mandate has been extended by the General Assembly on the average every two-three years, most recently until 30 June 1984. Originally, 蘑菇视频RWA was to provide assistance to refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the Gaza strip displaced as a result of the 1948 Israeli-Arab hostilities. Since 1967, 蘑菇视频RWA has also been authorized by the General Assembly to provide “humanitarian assistance, a8 far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to other persons in the area who are at present displaced and are in serious need of immediate assistance” as a result of the June 1967 hostilities (resolution 2252-ES-V of 4 July 1967).

(c) 蘑菇视频RWA provides education, health and relief services which are of concern to some 2 million Palestine refugees. No provision for their protection is made in General Assembly resolutions.

(d) In terms of staff, 蘑菇视频RWA constitutes by far the largest organization of the United Nations system : it has some 110 international staff members (20 of whom are paid by 蘑菇视频ESCO and five by WHO) and some 17,000 area staff, the majority of whom are Palestine refugees.

(e) 蘑菇视频RWA’s annual budget amounts to more than US$ 200 million. Except for a small contribution from the United Nations, 蘑菇视频ESCO and WHO regular budgets covering the staff costs of international professionals, the bulk of the Agency’s resources come from voluntary contributions. In recent years, the resources made available to 蘑菇视频RWA have not been sufficient to cover the requirements of the three programmes and even less to meet the additional costs arising from the increase in the refugee population and the rate of inflation.

6. Since its inception in 1950, the Agency has operated under very difficult conditions due not only to uncertainties regarding its financing and the continuation of its mandate, but also to the extremely delicate political context in which it is placed. Military operations have often caused casualties and bloodshed amongst 蘑菇视频RWA staff and the refugee populations, and also disruptions in services.

7. Throughout the preparation of this report, the JIU received valuable assistance from the Commissioner-General and his staff. The Inspectors visited Vienna Headquarters on several occasions to discuss various issues with the Commissioner-General and his staff. 蘑菇视频RWA also arranged for a JIU team to visit Amman Headquarters and all 蘑菇视频RWA field offices, including various camps and installations, in January-March 1983. Valuable discussions were also held with 蘑菇视频ESCO and WHO staff both in the Fields and at the Headquarters of these organizations, and with staff of the High Commissioner for Refugees. The Inspectors express their appreciation to all who assisted them.