1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the Revised Estimates Relating to the Proposed Programme Budget for 2025 under Section 26, Palestine Refugees;

2. The Group would like to thank Ms. Maria Costa, Director, Finance Division/OPPFB, and Mr. Abdallah Bachar Bong, Chair of the ACABQ, for introducing their respective reports;

3. The Group of 77 and China recalls General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 1949, which established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance, protection, and essential services to Palestine refugees, highlighting the vital role UNRWA plays in providing education, healthcare, relief and social services and emergency assistance to Palestine refugees, in all five fields of operation including in particular in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem;

4. The Group reaffirms that no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity and mandate to serve Palestine refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance, and underscores the responsibility of the international community to support the Agency in enabling the continuity of its indispensable operations in all five fields of operation, while emphasizing that that any interruption or suspension of its work would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestine refugees who depend on the Agency's services, with further implications for the region;

5. The group expresses deep concern over recent legislative actions by the Israel Knesset, that aim to obstruct UNRWA's operations, which significantly hinder the Agency's ability to fulfill its mandate;

6. The Group is also appalled by the killing of Agency staff and all acts of violence against civilians, including all acts of terror and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction of property under the United Nations flag and bearing the United Nations emblem, including UNRWA schools sheltering displaced civilians;

7. The Group appreciates the work of the Agency's staff, including in dire circumstances, in fulfillment of the Agency's mandate. We also extend our deepest condolences to the Agency for the loss of its staff members, which stood at 237 as of 28th October 2024, highlighting the continuous disregard and endangerment of the lives of United Nations staff in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

8. The Group stands ready to support the work of UNRWA and all its staff, and to engage constructively in the consideration of this important agenda item during the informal discussions;

I thank you.