Resolution 302(IV)
(December 8, 1949)
The General Assembly
Recalling its resolutions 212 (III) 32/ of 19 November 1948 and
194 (III) 33/ of 11 December 1948, affirming in particular the provisions
of paragraph 11 of the latter resolution,
Having examined with appreciation the first interim report 34 of
the United Nations Economic Survey Mission for the Middle East and the
report 35 of the Secretary-General on assistance to Palestine refugees,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments which have
generously responded to the appeal embodied in its resolution 212 (III),
and to the appeal of the Secretary-General, to contribute in kind or in
funds to the alleviation of the conditions of starvation and distress
among the Palestine refugees;
2. Expresses also its gratitude to the International Committee of the Red
Cross, to the League of Red Cross Societies and to the American Friends
Service Committee for the contribution they have made to this humanitarian
cause by discharging, in the face of great difficulties, the
responsibility they voluntarily assumed for the distribution of relief
supplies and the general care of the refugees; and welcomes the assurance
they have given the Secretary-General that they will continue their
co-operation with the United Nations until the end of March 1950 on a
mutually acceptable basis;
3. Commends the United Nations International Children's Emergency
Fund for the important contribution which it has made towards the United
Nations programme of assistance; and commends those specialized agencies,
which have rendered assistance in their respective fields, in particular
the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization and the International Refugee Organization.
4. Expresses its thanks to the numerous religious, charitable and
humanitarian organizations which have materially assisted in bringing
relief to Palestine's refugees;
5. Recognizes that, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph
11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, continued
assistance for the relief of the Palestine refugees is necessary to
prevent conditions of starvation and distress among them and to further
conditions of peace and stability, and that constructive measures should
be undertaken at an early date with a view to the termination of
international assistance for relief;
6. Considers that, subject to the provisions of paragraph 9 (d) of
the present resolution, the equivalent of approximately $33,700,000 will
be required for direct relief and works programmes for the period 1
January to 31 December 1950 of which the equivalent of $20,200,000 is
required for direct relief and $13,500,000 for works programmes; that the
equivalent of approximately $21,2000,0000 will be required for works
programmes from 1 January to 30 June 1951, all inclusive of administrative
expenses; and that direct relief should be terminated not later than 31
December 1950 unless otherwise determined by the General Assembly at its
fifth regular session;
7. Establishes the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the near East:
(a) To carry out in collaboration with local governments the direct relief
and works programmes as recommended by the Economic Survey Mission;
(b) To consult with the interested Near Eastern Governments
concerning measures to be taken by them preparatory to the time when
international assistance for relief and works projects is no longeravailable;
8. Establishes an Advisory Commission consisting of representatives
of France, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the United States of American, with power to add not more than
three additional members from contributing Governments, to advise and
assist the Director of the Untied Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the near East in the execution of the programme; the
director and the Advisory Commission shall consult with each Near Eastern
Government concerned in the selection, planning and execution of projects;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint the Director of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East in consultation with the Governments represented ont eh AdvisoryCommission;
(a) The Director shall be the chief executive officer of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees int he Near
East responsible to the General Assembly for the operation of theprogramme;
(b) The Director shall select and appoint his staff in accordance
with general arrangements made in agreement with the Secretary-General,
including such of the staff rules and regulations of the United Nations as
the Director and the Secretary-General shall agree are applicable, and to
the extent possible utilize the facilities and assistance of the
Secretary-General;
(c) The Director shall, in consultation with the Secretary-General and the
Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, establish
financial regulations for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East;
(d) Subject to the financial regulations established pursuant to
clause 9c) of the present paragraph, the Director, in consultation with
the Advisory Commission, shall apportion available funds between direct
relief and works projects in their discretion, in the event that the
estimates in paragraph 6 require revision;
10. Requests the Director to convene the Advisory Commission at the
earliest practicable date for the purpose of developing plans for the
organization and administration of the programme, and of adopting rules of
procedure;
11. Continues the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees as
established under General Assembly resolution 212 (III) until 1 April
1950, or until such date thereafter as the transfer referred to in
paragraph 12 is effected, and requests the Secretary-General in
consultation, with the operating agencies to continue the endeavour to
reduce the numbers of rations by progressive stages in the light of the
findings and recommendations of the Economic Survey Mission;
12. Instructs the Secretary-General to transfer to the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East the assets
and liabilities of the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees by 1
April 1950, or at such date as may be agreed by him and the Director of
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East;
13. Urges all Members of the United Nations and non-members to make
voluntary contributions in funds or in kind to ensure that the amount of
supplies and funds required is obtained for each period of the programme
as set out in paragraph 6; contributions in funds may be made in
currencies other than the United States dollar in so far as the programme
can be carried out in such currencies;
14. Authorizes the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, to advance funds
deemed to be available for this purpose and not exceeding $5,000,000 from
the Working Capital Fund to finance operations pursuant to the present
resolution, such sum to be repaid not later than 31 December 1950 from the
voluntary governmental contributions requested under paragraph 13 above;
15. Authorizes the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, to negotiate with the
International Refugee Organization for an interest-free loan in an amount
not to exceed the equivalent of $2,80,0000 to finance the programme
subject to mutually satisfactory conditions for repayment;
16. Authorizes the Secretary-General to continue the Special Fund
established under General Assembly resolution 212 (III) and to make
withdrawal therefrom for the operation of the United Nations Relief for
Palestine Refugees an, upon the request of the Director, for the
operations of the United Nations Relief and works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East;
17. Calls upon the Governments concerned to accord to the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
the privileges, immunities, exemptions and facilities which have been
granted to the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees, together with
all other privileges, immunities, exemptions and facilities necessary for
the fulfillment of its functions;
18. Urges the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund,
the International Refugee Organization, the World Health Organization, the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other
appropriate agencies and private groups and organizations, in consultation
with the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East, to furnish assistance within the
framework of the programme;
19. Requests the Director of the Untied Nations Relief and works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East:
(a) To appoint a representative to attend the meeting of the
Technical Assistance Board as observer so that the technical assistance
activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine
Refugees in the Near East may be coordinated with the technical assistance
programmes of the United Nations and specialized agencies referred to in
Economic and Social Council resolution 222 (IX) A*36 of 15 August 1949;
(b) To place at the disposal of the Technical Assistance Board
full information concerning any technical assistance work which may be
done by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East, in order that it may be included in the reports
submitted by the Technical Assistance Board to the Technical Assistance
Committee of the Economic and Social Council;
20. Directs the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East to consult with the United Nations Conciliation
Commission for Palestine in the best interests of their respective tasks,
with particular reference to paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution
194 (III) of 11 December 1948;
21. Requests the Director to submit to the General Assembly of the
United Nations an annual report on the work of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees int he Near East, including an
audit of funds, and invites him to submit to the Secretary-General such
other reports as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East may wish to bring tot he attention of Members of
the United Nations, or its appropriate organs;
22. Instructs the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine to
transmit the final report of the Economic Survey Mission, with such
comments as it may wish to make, to the Secretary-General for transmission
to the Members of the United Nations and tot he United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
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32 / See Official Records of the third
session of the General Assembly, Part I, Resolutions, page 66.33/ Ibid., page 21
34/ See Official Records of the fourth session of the General Assembly
Annex tot he Ad Hoc Political Committee, document A/1106
35/ Ibid., documents A/1060 and A/1060/Add.1.
36/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Fourth Year,
Ninth Session, Resolutions, page 4.
Sources: The United Nations |