Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 9 December 2021          [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee  (Fourth Committee) (A/76/416, para. 13)]        76/78. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East        The General Assembly,    Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of  19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related  resolutions, including its resolution 75/94 of 10 December 2020,    Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,    Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United  Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering  the period from 1 January to 31 December 2020,1    Taking note of the letter dated 1 July 2021 from the Chair of the Advisory  Commission of the Agency addressed to the Commissioner-General,2     Underlining that, at a time of heightened conflict and instability in the Middle  East, the Agency continues to play a vital role in ameliorating the plight of the  Palestine refugees through the provision of, inter alia, essential education, health,  relief and social services programmes and emergency assistance to a registered  population of more than 5.7 million refugees whose situation is extremely precarious,  in mitigating the consequences of alarming trends in the Agency’s areas of operation,  including increasing violence, marginalization and poverty and the impact of the  coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and in providing a crucial measure of  stability in the region,  __________________    1  Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/76/13).    2  Ibid., pp. 7–8.   A/RES/76/78  Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East   21-18626 2/11      Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967 and 2341 B (XXII) of  19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, recalling also Security  Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September  1968, stressing the necessity of an accelerated return of displaced persons, and calling  for compliance with the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the  Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September  19933 on the return of displaced persons,    Deeply concerned about the extremely critical financial situation of the Agency,  caused by the structural underfunding of the Agency, as well as by rising needs and  expenditures resulting from the deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian  conditions and the conflicts and rising instability in the region and their significant  negative impact on the ability of the Agency to deliver essential services to the  Palestine refugees, including its emergency, recovery, reconstruction and  development programmes in all fields of operation,    Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the  United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, 4  submitted pursuant to resolution 71/93 of 6 December 2016, and the request contained  therein for broad consultations to explore all ways and means, including through  voluntary and assessed contributions, to ensure that the Agency’s funding is  sufficient, predictable and sustained for the duration of its mandate, and considering  the recommendations contained in the report,    Taking note also of the report of 31 May 2021 of the Commissioner-General,  submitted pursuant to paragraph 57 of the report of the Secretary-General and in  follow-up to the update to the special report of 3 August 2015 of the Commissioner- General, 5  submitted pursuant to paragraph 21 of General Assembly resolution  302 (IV), regarding the severe financial crisis of the Agency and the negative  implications for the continued delivery of core Agency programmes to the Palestine  refugees in all fields of operation,    Expressing appreciation for the efforts of donors and host countries to respond  to the Agency’s unprecedented financial crisis, including through generous,  additional contributions and, where possible, continued increases in voluntary  contributions, while acknowledging the steadfast support of all other donors to the  Agency,    Welcoming the contributions made to the Agency’s emergency appeals,  including for the Gaza Strip and for the Syrian Arab Republic, and calling urgently  upon the international community to continue its support, since needs persist and  these appeals remain severely underfunded,    Noting that contributions have not been predictable enough or sufficient to meet  growing needs and remedy the persistent shortfalls, thereby undermining the  Agency’s operations and efforts to promote human development and meet Palestine  refugees’ basic needs, and stressing the need for further efforts to comprehensively  address the recurrent funding shortfalls affecting the Agency’s operations,    Recognizing the Agency’s extensive efforts to rapidly develop innovative and  diversified ways to address its financial shortfall and mobilize resources, including  through the expansion of the donor base and partnerships with international financial  institutions, the private sector and civil society, including through special digital  campaigns,  __________________    3  A/48/486-S/26560, annex.    4  A/71/849.    5  A/70/272, annex.   Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East  A/RES/76/78   3/11 21-18626      Commending the Agency for the measures taken to address the financial crisis,  despite difficult operational circumstances, including through the implementation of  the medium-term strategy for 2016–2021 and various internal measures to contain  expenditures, reduce operational and administrative costs, maximize the use of  resources and reduce the funding shortfalls, and expressing profound concern that,  despite such measures, the Agency’s programme budget, which is funded primarily  by voluntary contributions from Member States and intergovernmental organizations,  faces persistent shortfalls that continue to threaten the delivery of the Agency’s core  programmes of assistance to the Palestine refugees,    Encouraging the Agency to sustain those reform efforts, while also taking all  possible measures to protect and improve the quality of access to and the delivery of  core programmes of assistance,    Recalling its resolution 65/272 of 18 April 2011, in which it requested the  Secretary-General to continue to support the institutional strengthening of the  Agency,    Stressing the need to support the Agency’s capacity to uphold its mandate and  to avert the serious humanitarian, political and security risks that would result from  any interruption or suspension of its vital work,    Recognizing that the recurring and growing financial shortfalls directly affecting  the sustainability of the Agency’s operations need to be remedied by examining new  funding modalities designed to put the Agency on a stable financial footing to enable  it to effectively carry out its core programmes in accordance with its mandate and  commensurate with humanitarian needs,    Welcoming the affirmation in the New York Declaration for Refugees and  Migrants, adopted by the General Assembly on 19 September 2016, 6 that, inter alia,  the Agency, along with other relevant organizations, requires sufficient funding to be  able to carry out its activities effectively and in a predictable manner,    Bearing in mind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,7 including the  pledge that no one will be left behind, emphasizing that the Sustainable Development  Goals apply to all, including refugees, and commending the efforts of the Agency’s  programmes to promote 10 of the 17 Goals, as indicated in the report of the Secretary- General,    Welcoming the joint efforts of host countries and donors to mobilize support for  the Agency, including through extraordinary ministerial meetings, inter alia, the  extraordinary ministerial conference held in Rome on 15 March 2018, the ministerial  meeting convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 26 September  2019 and the extraordinary virtual ministerial pledging conference convened on  23 June 2020, hosted by Jordan and Sweden, aimed at urgently addressing the  Agency’s funding shortfall and the need for predictable multi-year funding,  expanding donor support for the Agency and reaffirming support for its mandate,    Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and  the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 8     Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated  Personnel,9   __________________    6  Resolution 71/1.    7  Resolution 70/1.    8  Resolution 22 A (I).    9  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457.   A/RES/76/78  Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East   21-18626 4/11      Recalling further its resolutions 75/125 of 11 December 2020 on the safety and  security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and  75/127 of 11 December 2020 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency  humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, calling upon, inter alia, all States to  ensure respect for and the protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations  and associated personnel, to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality,  impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance and to  respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises,    Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection  of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 10 to the Palestinian territory  occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,    Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation,  namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian  Territory,    Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions  being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including  East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the  recurrent military operations, continuing prolonged Israeli closures, the construction  of settlements and the wall, evictions, the demolition of homes and livelihood  properties causing forced transfers of civilians, and the severe economic and  movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, which have deepened  unemployment and poverty rates among the refugees, with potentially lasting, long- term negative effects, while taking note of developments with regard to the situation  of access there,    Concerned about plans and measures to interfere with or obstruct the operations  of the Agency, including in East Jerusalem, contrary to international law and the  Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and reiterating  the need for the Agency to fully implement its mandate in support of Palestine  refugees without interference, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,  including East Jerusalem,    Commending the health-care staff of the Agency for their dedication in  responding to the profound stresses caused to the health system by the high number  of Palestinian civilian casualties in the recent period in the Gaza Strip,    Commending also the important role played by the Agency throughout its areas  of operations to help to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19,    Expressing grave concern in this regard about the lasting impact on the  humanitarian and socioeconomic situation of the Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip,  including high rates of food insecurity, poverty, displacement and the depletion of  coping capacities,    Recalling the temporary tripartite agreement facilitated by the United Nations  in September 2014, and stressing the urgent need for the lifting of all Israeli closures  and restrictions on the Gaza Strip,    Recalling also its resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009 and Security Council  resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009, as well as the Agreement on Movement  and Access of 15 November 2005,  __________________    10  Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973.   Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East  A/RES/76/78   5/11 21-18626      Expressing concern about the continuing classroom shortage, including in the  Gaza Strip, and the consequent negative impact on the right to education of refugee  children,    Stressing the urgent need for the provision of the necessary humanitarian  assistance and funding support for the advancement of reconstruction and recovery in  the Gaza Strip, including by ensuring the timely facilitation of construction projects,  including extensive shelter repair, and the need for the accelerated implementation of  other urgent United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities, and calling upon  Israel to ensure the expedited and unimpeded import of all necessary construction  materials into the Gaza Strip and to reduce the burdensome cost of importation of  Agency supplies, while taking note of the continued implementation of the tripartite  agreement facilitated by the United Nations,    Stressing that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unsustainable and that a durable  ceasefire agreement must lead to a fundamental improvement in the living conditions  of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, including through the sustained and  regular opening of crossing points, and must ensure the safety and well-being of  civilians on both sides,    Affirming the need to support the Palestinian Government in its assumption of  full government responsibilities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in all  fields, as well as through its presence at Gaza’s crossing points,     Expressing deep concern at the critical situation of Palestine refugees in the  Syrian Arab Republic and at the impact of the crisis on the Agency’s installations and  its ability to deliver its services, and regretting profoundly the loss of life and  widespread displacement among refugees and the killing of staff members of the  Agency in the crisis since 2012,    Emphasizing the continuing need for assistance to Palestine refugees in the  Syrian Arab Republic, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries,  including in particular Lebanon, where an unprecedent financial crisis is further  affecting socioeconomic conditions among the refugees, and emphasizing the  necessity of ensuring open borders for Palestine refugees fleeing the crisis in the  Syrian Arab Republic, consistent with the principles of non-discrimination and  non-refoulement under international law, and recalling in this regard the statement by  the President of the Security Council of 2 October 2013 11  and the New York  Declaration for Refugees and Migrants,    Aware of the valuable work done by the Agency in providing protection to the  Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, and recalling the need for the  protection of all civilians in situations of armed conflict,    Deploring the endangerment of the safety of the Agency’s staff and the damage  and destruction caused to the facilities and properties of the Agency, and stressing the  need to maintain the neutrality and safeguard the inviolability of United Nations  premises, installations and equipment at all times,    Deploring also the breaches of the inviolability of United Nations premises, the  failure to accord the property and assets of the Organization immunity from any form  of interference, incursions or misuse, the failure to protect United Nations personnel,  premises and property and any disruption caused to Agency operations by such  violations,  __________________    11  S/PRST/2013/15; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July  2014 (S/INF/69).   A/RES/76/78  Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East   21-18626 6/11      Deploring further all attacks affecting United Nations installations, including  Agency schools sheltering displaced civilians, and all other breaches of the  inviolability of United Nations premises, including during the conflict in the Gaza  Strip in July and August 2014, as reported in the summary by the Secretary-General  of the report of the Board of Inquiry12 and by the independent commission of inquiry  established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1,13 and stressing the  imperative of ensuring accountability,    Condemning the killing, injury and detention contrary to international law of  Agency staff members,    Condemning also the killing, wounding and detention contrary to international  law of refugee children and women,    Affirming the need for accountability and compensation to victims of violations  of international law in accordance with international standards by all sides,    Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the  freedom of movement and access of the Agency’s staff, vehicles and goods, and the  injury, harassment and intimidation of the Agency’s staff, which undermine and  obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide essential basic and  emergency services,    Recalling the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on  5 December 2001 and on 17 December 201414 by the Conference of High Contracting  Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, including the call upon parties to facilitate  the activities of the Agency, to guarantee its protection and to refrain from levying  taxes and imposing undue financial burdens,    Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel,    Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange  of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,15     1.  Reaffirms that the effective functioning of the United Nations Relief and  Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains essential in all fields  of operation;    2.  Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the Agency, as  well as to all the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work,  particularly in the light of the difficult conditions, instability and crises faced during  the past year;    3.  Expresses special commendation to the Agency for the essential role that  it has played for more than seven decades since its establishment in providing vital  services for the well-being, human development and protection of the Palestine  refugees and the amelioration of their plight and for the stability of the region, and  affirms the necessity for continuing the work of the Agency and its unimpeded  operation and provision of services, pending the just resolution of the question of the  Palestine refugees;    4.  Commends the Agency for its extraordinary efforts, in cooperation with  other United Nations agencies on the ground, to provide emergency humanitarian  assistance, including shelter, food and medical aid, to refugees and affected civilians  during periods of crisis and conflict, and recognizes its exemplary capacity to  __________________    12  S/2015/286, annex.    13  See A/HRC/29/52.    14  A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex.    15  Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13),  annex I.   Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East  A/RES/76/78   7/11 21-18626    mobilize in emergency situations while continuously carrying out its core human  development programmes;    5.  Endorses in this regard the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the  Agency to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an  emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently  displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and  subsequent hostilities, while reaffirming the right of all persons displaced as a result  of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places  of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967;    6.  Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals  to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and  non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purpose;    7.  Expresses its grave concern about attempts to discredit the Agency despite  its proven operational capacity, record of effective provision of humanitarian and  development assistance and consistent implementation of its mandate in accordance  with relevant resolutions and its regulatory framework, even under the most difficult  circumstances;    8.  Reaffirms the Agency’s important role in providing humanitarian and  development assistance to Palestine refugees, engaging with international human rights  mechanisms, as appropriate, and in doing so contributing to the protection and resilience  of Palestinian civilians, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General on the  protection of the Palestinian civilian population,16 and contributing to regional stability;    9.  Expresses its appreciation for the important support and cooperation  provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties;    10. Expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and  requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its  activities;    11. Takes note of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the  United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 17  and the efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests  the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working  Group for the conduct of its work;    12. Expresses its deep appreciation to all donor countries and organizations  that have, inter alia, sustained, accelerated or increased their contributions to the  Agency, helping to alleviate its recurrent financial crises, to mitigate imminent risks  to its core and emergency programming and to prevent an interruption of essential  assistance to Palestine refugees;    13. Commends the Agency for its six-year medium-term strategy for 2016–2021  and the Commissioner-General for his continuing efforts to increase the budgetary  transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency’s proposed  programme budget for 2022;18     14. Also commends the Agency for sustaining its robust internal reform efforts,  despite difficult operational circumstances, and recognizes its implementation of  maximum efficiency procedures to contain expenditures, reduce operational and  administrative costs, reduce its funding shortfalls and maximize the use of resources;  __________________    16  A/ES-10/794.    17  A/76/306.    18  A/76/6 (Sect. 26).   A/RES/76/78  Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East   21-18626 8/11      15. Calls upon the Agency to further enhance its internal governance and  oversight mechanisms to ensure that the Agency’s management is delivering on its  mandate with transparency and accountability, while preserving the Agency’s agility  and operational response capacity;    16. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the  United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and  the conclusions and recommendations contained therein;    17. Appeals to States and organizations for the maintenance of their voluntary  contributions to the Agency, as well as an increase in contributions where possible, in  particular to the Agency’s programme budget, including in the consideration of their  allocation of resources for international human rights, peace and stability, development  and humanitarian efforts, to support the Agency’s mandate and its ability to meet the  rising needs of the Palestine refugees and essential associated costs of operations;    18. Appeals to States and organizations not currently contributing to the  Agency to urgently consider making voluntary contributions in response to the calls  of the Secretary-General for expansion of the Agency’s donor base, in order to  stabilize funding and ensure greater sharing of the financial burden of supporting the  Agency’s operations, in accordance with the continuing responsibility of the  international community as a whole to assist the Palestine refugees;    19. Calls for the provision by donors of early annual voluntary contributions,  less earmarking, and multi-year funding, in line with the Grand Bargain on  humanitarian financing announced at the World Humanitarian Summit, held in  Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2016, in order to enhance the Agency’s ability to plan and  implement its operations with a greater degree of assurance regarding resource flows;    20. Also calls for the full and timely funding by donors of the Agency’s  emergency, recovery and reconstruction programmes as set out in its appeals and  response plans;    21. Requests the Commissioner-General to continue efforts to maintain and  increase traditional donor support and to enhance income from non-traditional  donors, including through partnerships with public and private entities;    22. Encourages the Agency to explore financing avenues in relation to the  implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; 19     23. Urges States and organizations to actively pursue partnerships with and  innovative support for the Agency, including as recommended in paragraphs 47, 48  and 50 of the report of the Secretary-General,20 including through the establishment of  endowments, trust funds or revolving fund mechanisms and assistance to the Agency  to access humanitarian, development and peace and security trust funds and grants;    24. Welcomes pledges by States and organizations to provide diplomatic and  technical support to the Agency, including engagement with international and  financial development institutions, including the World Bank and the Islamic  Development Bank, and, where appropriate, to facilitate support for the establishment  of financing mechanisms that can provide assistance to refugees and in fragile  contexts, including to meet the needs of the Palestine refugees, and calls for serious  follow-up efforts;  __________________    19  See resolution 70/1.    20  A/71/849.   Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East  A/RES/76/78   9/11 21-18626      25. Urges States and organizations to provide contributions to the waqf fund  established by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the Islamic Development  Bank in support of Palestine refugees through enhanced support to the Agency;    26. Encourages further progress with regard to the creation of a World Bank  multi-donor trust fund;    27. Requests the Agency to continue to implement efficiency measures  through its medium-term strategy and the development of a five-year proposal for  stabilizing the Agency’s finances, including specific and time-bound measures, and  to continue to improve its cost efficiency and resource mobilization efforts;    28. Calls upon the members of the Advisory Commission and the Working  Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine  Refugees in the Near East to consider the relevant recommendations in the report of  the Secretary-General, including to help the Agency to address resource mobilization  challenges and to actively assist the Commissioner-General in the efforts to create  sustainable, sufficient and predictable support for the Agency’s operations;    29. Takes note of the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the  support provided to the Agency from the regular budget of the United Nations;    30. Endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General to continue to provide  humanitarian assistance, as far as is practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary  measure, to persons in the area who are internally displaced and in serious need of  continuing assistance as a result of recent crises in the Agency’s fields of operation;    31. Encourages the Agency to provide increased assistance, in accordance  with its mandate, to affected Palestine refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic as well  as to those who have fled to neighbouring countries, as detailed in the Syrian regional  crisis response plans, and calls upon donors to urgently ensure sustained support to  the Agency in this regard in the light of the continuing grave deterioration of the  situation and the growing needs of the refugees;    32. Welcomes the progress made thus far by the Agency in rebuilding the Nahr  el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon, and calls for donor funding to enable the  expeditious completion of its reconstruction, for the continued provision of relief  assistance to those displaced following its destruction in 2007 and for the alleviation  of their ongoing suffering through the provision of the necessary support and financial  assistance until the reconstruction of the camp is complete;    33. Encourages the Agency, in close cooperation with other relevant United  Nations entities, to continue to make progress in addressing the needs, rights and  protection of children, women and persons with disabilities in its operations,  including through the provision of necessary psychosocial and humanitarian support,  in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child,21 the Convention on  the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 22 and the Convention  on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;23     34. Also encourages the Agency to continue to reduce the vulnerability and  improve the self-reliance and resilience of Palestine refugees through its programmes;    35. Recognizes the acute protection needs of Palestine refugees across the  region, and encourages the Agency’s efforts to contribute to a coordinated and  __________________    21  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531.    22  Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378.    23  Ibid., vol. 2515, No. 44910.   A/RES/76/78  Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East   21-18626 10/11    sustained response in accordance with international law, including the Agency’s new  protection strategic framework;    36. Commends the Agency for its humanitarian and psychosocial support  programmes and other initiatives that provide recreational, cultural and educational  activities for children in all fields, including in the Gaza Strip, recognizing their  positive contribution, calls for full support for such initiatives by donor and host  countries, and encourages the building and strengthening of partnerships to facilitate  and enhance the provision of these services;    37. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the  provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in  Time of War, of 12 August 1949;    38. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter  of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the  United Nations in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the  protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the  Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, at all times;    39. Urges the Government of Israel to expeditiously reimburse the Agency for  all transit charges incurred and other financial losses sustained as a result of the delays  and restrictions on movement and access imposed by Israel;    40. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement and  access of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease levying taxes,  extra fees and charges, which affect the Agency’s operations detrimentally;    41. Reiterates its call upon Israel to fully lift the restrictions impeding or  delaying the import of necessary construction materials and supplies for the  reconstruction and repair of the remaining damaged or destroyed refugee shelters, and  for the implementation of suspended and urgently needed civilian infrastructure  projects in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, noting the alarming figures reflected in  the United Nations country team reports of 26 August 2016, entitled “Gaza: two years  after”, and of July 2017, entitled “Gaza ten years later”;    42. Notes with appreciation the positive contribution of the Agency’s  microfinance and job creation programmes, encourages efforts to enhance the  sustainability and benefits of microfinance services to a greater number of Palestine  refugees, especially in view of the high unemployment rates affecting them, and youth in  particular, welcomes the Agency’s efforts to streamline costs and increase microfinance  services through internal reform efforts, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation  with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute to the development of the economic  and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation;    43. Reiterates its appeals to all States, the specialized agencies, and  intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment  their contributions to the programme budget of the Agency, to increase their special  allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees and  to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees,  and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations  for grants and scholarships;    44. Calls upon the Commissioner-General to include, in the annual reporting  to the General Assembly, assessments on the progress made to remedy the recurrent  funding shortfalls of the Agency and ensure sustained, sufficient and predictable   Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for  Palestine Refugees in the Near East  A/RES/76/78   11/11 21-18626    support for the Agency’s operations, including through the implementation of the  relevant provisions of the present resolution.