text: East(UNRWA), alsoasubsidiary organoftheGeneral Assembly, underArticle 22of theCharter, wasestablished byresolution 302(IV)of8December 1949toprovide assistance tothePalestine refugees. TheAssembly hasperiodically extended its mandate sincethen,mostrecently byresolution 44/47Aof8December 1989until 30June1993. 36.6Theoverall objective oftheprogramme, asitrelates toUNHCR, corresponds tothosesetoutinthestatute, Convention andProtocol, inparticular paragraph I ofthestatute, whichstates: "TheUnited Nations HighCommissioner forRefugees, acting underthe authority oftheGeneral Assembly, shallassume thefunction ofproviding international protection, undertheauspices oftheUnited Nations, to refugees whofallwithin thescopeofthepresent Statute andofseeking permanent solutions fortheproblem ofrefugees byassisting governments and, subject totheapproval ofthegovernments concerned, private organizations to facilitate thevoluntary repatriation ofsuchrefugees, ortheirassimilation within newnational communities." -3- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library36.7Paragraph 8ofthestatute spellsoutthemeasures bywhichtheHigh Commissioner shallprovide fortheprotection ofrefugees falling underthe competence oftheOffice: "(a)Promoting theconclusion andratification ofinternational conventions fortheprotection ofrefugees, supervising theirapplication and proposing amendments thereto: "(b)Promoting through special agreements withgovernments theexecution ofanymeasures calculated toimprove thesituation ofrefugees andtoreduce thenumberrequiring protection: "(c)Assisting governmental andprivate efforts topromote voluntary repatriation orassimilation within newnational communities; "(d)Promoting theadmission ofrefugees, notexcluding thoseinthemost destitute categories, totheterritories ofStates; "(e)Endeavouring toobtainpermission forrefugees totransfer their assets andespecially thosenecessary fortheirresettlement; "(f)Obtaining fromgovernments information concerning thenumber and conditions ofrefugees intheirterritories andthelawsandregulations concerning them; "(g)Keeping inclosetouchwiththegovernments andinter-governmental organizations concerned; "(h)Establishing contact insuchmanner ashemaythinkbestwith private organizations dealing withrefugee questions; "(i)Facilitating theco-ordination oftheefforts ofprivate organizations concerned withthewelfare ofrefugees." 36.8Inaddition tothoseinstruments, theGeneral Assembly, theEconomic and SocialCouncil andtheExecutive Committee oftheProgramme oftheHigh Commissioner haveadopted inrecentyearsnumerous resolutions, decisions and/or declarations thathavefurther elaborated onthewaysstipUlated inparagraph 8of thestatute, particularly asregards theneedtoimprove continuously orreorient thematerial assistance programmes provided bytheHighCommissioner inorderto meettheincreasing dimensions andcomplexities ofrefugees needsandproblems. Residetheresolutions adopted eachyearbytheGeneral Assembly following its annualconsideration ofthereportoftheHighCommissioner andthereportofthe Executive Committee oftheProgramme oftheHighCommissioner, mostrecently resolution 44/137of15December 1989,otherrelevant resolutions adopted inrecent yearsareresolutions 41/70of3December 1986endorsing theconclusions and recommendations contained inthereportoftheGroupofGovernmental Experts on International Co-operation toAvertNewFlowsofRefugees; 41/122of 4December 1986and42/107of7December 1987ontheSecondInternational Conference onAssistance toRefugees inAfrica; 42/106ofthesamedate,43/116of 8December 1988and44/136of15December 1989ontheInternational Conference on thePlightofRefugees, Returnees andDisplaced Persons inSouthern Africa; 42/110 of7December 1987onassistance torefugees, returnees anddisplaced persons of Central America; 43/118of8December 1988and44/139of15December 1989onthe -4-
analysis: The text appears to be focused on the United Nations' efforts to provide assistance to Palestine refugees, specifically discussing the role of UNHCR and the measures taken to provide international protection and facilitate the voluntary repatriation or assimilation of refugees. The text also mentions the importance of improving material assistance programs to meet the increasing dimensions and complexities of refugees' needs and problems.