In a major speech to a donors' conference in Amman last week, UNRWA's Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd, who is an American, highlighted the following areas of concern.

Below are excerpts from her speech.

The occupied territories

In our efforts to address the multiple challenges of Gaza and the West Bank, we must give humanitarian and human needs an equal place with political and security questions. Our experience is that these elements are inseparable in practice. We must give due and equal attention to all these elements in their totality, as each one in isolation is but a hollow shell.

The forthcoming conferences in Annapolis and Paris hold out possibilities. In order to seize them, the international community must be inclusive about participation and open-minded about the topics for discussion.

West Bank

It is a matter of grave concern that the situation in the West Bank continues to defy principles and binding instruments of international law.

An insidious new regime to limit freedom of movement is threatening to further stifle economic activity and smother social interaction between villages and towns in the West Bank. UNRWA too will soon be affected by the implementation of these measures, which will be applied even to vehicles carrying humanitarian supplies.

Gaza

In Gaza, the spectacle of a million and a half people held captive in deteriorating conditions simply defies reason. A new dimension of sanctions was introduced in June this year when all borders were sealed with a few exceptions being made for humanitarian and some food and medical items. The result thus far is a 70 per cent reduction in the supplies reaching Gaza and a reduction in fuel imports.

Caring for Palestine Refugees. By the end of 1956, UNRWA operated 347 elementary and secondary schools, under UNESCO supervision. This picture shows school children leaving an elementary school in the Gaza Strip at the end of a school day. Photo taken May 1, 1957. © UN Photo/JG 

While UNRWA is doing its utmost, together with other UN agencies, to ameliorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, we are constrained by the fact that 46 percent of our emergency appeal for 2007 is yet to be funded. It is clear to us that open borders and free movement are all Palestinians need to regain economic self-sufficiency. It is therefore imperative that Karni and Rafah crossings re-open and remain fully functional.

Lebanon

This past summer, the fragile modus vivendi in northern Lebanon was shattered by the conflict between armed elements who had infiltrated Nahr el Bared camp and the Lebanese army. This tragedy displaced over 30,000 refugees, who fled to the neighboring Beddawi camp.

We saw how the Beddawi refugee community embraced the new arrivals and how UNRWA moved quickly into emergency mode, providing food and health services and facilitating emergency housing.