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Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Egypt And the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Egypt
And the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Alexandria, 12 September 1950
WHEREAS the General Assembly of the United Nations by Resolution 302 (IV) established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East hereinafter referred to as the Agency and this Agency has taken over responsibility for relief to Palestine Refugees in that portion of Palestine occupied and administered by the Egyptian Government where responsibility for direct relief was formerly vested in the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and the American Friends Service Committee.
WHEREAS the Egyptian Government at the Fourth Session of the General Assembly adhered to and supported the Resolution establishing the Agency.
WHEREAS the relief for Palestine refugees was formerly the subject of an Agreement between the Royal Egyptian Government, the Director of the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and the American Friends Service Committee dated 31 December 1948 and this Agreement has been continued by grace of the Royal Egyptian Government pending the conclusion of a new Agreement between that Government and the Agency.
WHEREAS the supplies to be distributed represent gifts of Member states of the United Nations and other for the relief of Palestine Refugees and these supplies reach that area of Palestine occupied and administered by the Royal Egyptian Government through ports and territories of the Kingdom of Egypt.
WHEREAS the Agency recognises that assistance is necessary for the relief of Palestine Refugees to prevent conditions of starvation and distress among them and to that end consultations shall be instituted between the Agency and the Royal Egyptian Government at the earliest possible date.
WHEREAS the Royal Egyptian Government has advised the Director of the Agency and his Advisory Commission of its continued cooperation in the programme of relief for Palestine Refugees, it has been agreed to set forth those facilities and immunities regarded as essential to the successful continuation of the United Nations relief and works programme.
Article 1
(1) The Royal Egyptian Government agrees to grant each representative of the Director of the Agency whose name may be submitted to and accepted by the Royal Egyptian Government a written permit which will
a) enable him or her to move freely and at any time throughout Egypt and Egyptian controlled areas of Southern Palestine in which substantial groups of refugees may be found, and
b) enable him or her to move freely and at any time between this area of Southern Palestine and the Kingdom of Egypt.
(2) The Royal Egyptian Government agrees to issue at the request of the Director of the Agency or his deputy to locally recruited personnel employed by the Agency (such as doctors, nurses, drivers, messengers) whose names may be submitted to and accepted by the Royal Egyptian Government written permits which will enable them to move freely in the above mentioned territories. It being understood that these written permits can be withdrawn from the beneficiaries on security grounds or upon evidence being produced of unlawful actions which they may have committed.
(3) The Royal Egyptian Government agrees to issue permits which will permit cars and vehicles of the Agency to move freely and at any time within the above mentioned areas.
(4) It being understood that the freedom of movement mentioned in paras. 1. 2 and 3 above will be in accordance with Police regulations and regulations relating to military security in the zones where such regulations may exist.
Article II
1) The Royal Egyptian Government agrees to furnish without any cost for goods stores produce and equipment destined for the refugees in Southern Palestine the following services:
a) labour for unloading and handling
b) transport by rail and lorries and fuel, therefor
c) warehouses and stores
d) safe conduct during storage and transport
2) It being understood that the Royal Egyptian Government will not be held responsible for any damage or loss due to transport operations major defects in the articles circumstances beyond their control or accidents.
Article III
(1) The goods stores produce and equipment including petroleum products destined for the refugees in Southern Palestine will be admitted exempt of all customs duty taxes or import duties of any sort collected for the profit of the State or any public administration.
(2) Subject to measures connected with security and public order the aforementioned goods stores produce and equipment will be exempted from Customs examination and inspection. This exemption can be withdrawn if the Customs authorities find out that it is being abused.
Further, the Agency is exempted from having to obtain export permits from Egypt import permits into Southern Palestine or foreign exchange permits for all the aforementioned items.
Article IV
The goods stores produce and equipment including petroleum products brought into Southern Palestine by virtue of the preceding Articles remain the property of the United Nations until delivery to the individual beneficiaries.
Article V
The Royal Egyptian Government undertakes to provide rapid means of communication including if necessary full opportunity for telecommunication between Gaza and Port Said or Cairo including the use of the facilities of the Royal Egyptian Army it being understood that such facilities will be used solely for the purpose of communications directly relating to the operation of the relief and works programme.
Article VI
With a view to facilitating the Agency's mission:
(1) The Royal Egyptian Government will appoint a Liaison Officer, whose name will be sent to the Director of the Agency, who will centralize all the Agency's requests in the territory of Southern Palestine under Egyptian control, and who will be the intermediary between the Agency and the Public Authorities in this territory
(2) The Royal Egyptian Government will put at the Agency's disposal the lists in its possession of refugees now in Egypt or in the said territory of Southern Palestine under Egyptian control.
(3) The final lists will be brought up to date by the addition of new names. of refugees by mutual agreement between the Governor General of Southern Palestine under Egyptian control and the Director of the Agency or his deputy. Any deletion from the lists or discontinuance of supplies or goods to refugees whose names are already on these lists will be made by the sole authority of the Governor General, after consultation with the Director of the Agency, or his deputy.
Article VII
The Royal Egyptian Government agrees to grant to the Director of the Agency his deputy and to the Members of the Advisory Commission provided for in the aforementioned Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly the privileges and immunities normally enjoyed by international custom by diplomatic envoys of equivalent rank. They will be exempted as will all the internationally employed staff members of the Agency from quarantine customs and other fees of similar nature when travelling upon official business of the Agency.
The above Articles are hereby a matter of Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Egypt and the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. It will come into force from the date of signature subject to approval by the Egyptian Parliament.
For the Egyptian Government
Minister of Foreign Affairs p.i.
Ibrahim FARAG
For UNRWA: The Director
Howard KENNEDY
***
EXCHANGE OF LETTERS
Alexandria, 12 September 1950
I
The Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs ad interim
Excellency,
I have the honour to refer to the Agreement between the Royal Egyptian Government and UNRWA, signed today, and in particular to Article VI, paragraph 3, of the same.
It is my understanding as regards the Article in question that no objection will be raised on behalf of the Royal Egyptian Government to deletion of Refugees from the list because of deaths, official transfers to other areas or because of transfers to wage paying works projects. It is understood that deletions of refugee workers and their dependents will remain valid only during the period the refugee is employed on wage paying projects.
It is also my understanding that the approximative number of refugees at the time the Agreement was initialled, the 23 of July 1950, viz 200,000 refugees, shall be accepted as a working basis.
I have the honour to be, Excellency,
Yours very truly,
Howard KENNEDY
Director UNRWA
II
The Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs ad interim to the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Dear General Kennedy,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter on the subject of the new Agreement between the Royal Egyptian Government and UNRWA, signed today.
Having regard to Article VI, paragraph 3, of the Agreement referred to above, I hereby confirm on behalf of my Government, that no objection will be raised to deletion of refugees from the list because of deaths, officials transfers to other areas or because of transfers to wage paying works projects. It is understood that deletions of refugee workers and their dependents will remain valid only during the period the refugee is employed on wage paying projects, and that the approximative number of refugees at the time the Agreement was initialled on the 23 July 1950, viz 200,000 shall be accepted as a working basis.
With expressions of my highest regard, believe me, Sir,
Yours very truly,
Minister of Foreign Affairs a.i.
Ibrahim FARAG
Source: United Nations. Treaty Series 1952. New York: United Nations, vol. 121, pp. 107-118.