AMMAN, February 28, 2006 (WAFA)-The Commissioner-General of UNRWA Karen AbuZayd said that "the overall security situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated further, and the situation as regards freedom of movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has worsened".

AbuZayd was speaking at the first session of UNRWA's expanded Advisory Commission, which concluded Monday in Amman. The meeting was chaired by Rana Al-Mokadem, head of the Palestine department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon.

The Commissioner-General said that "Israeli military operations have continued in the OPT, including daily shelling (in response to qassam rocket attacks), targeted assassinations in Gaza, and new incursions in the West Bank".

She added that in the latest Israeli operation in Balata camp, some of our installations were commandeered by the Israeli army, "despite all efforts made by my West Bank colleagues and myself at preventing these unacceptable and illegal intrusions".

In her opening remarks, AbuZayd welcomed the participants and briefed the delegates about recent developments in the Agency's areas of operations.

She reviewed the Agency's management reform process, the status of funding to the general fund and emergency appeal, and the challenges facing the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Referring to speculations about continuation of assistance following the Palestinian elections, the Commissioner General emphasized that "UNRWA will continue to provide all the services under its mandate, in full and on time, for as long as the political and financial support of the international community is forthcoming, and security conditions allow".

During this organizational session, the Advisory Commission approved the rules of procedure and programme of work for the revitalized Advisory Commission, which is to enhance significantly its role in advising and assisting the Commissioner-General.

The Advisory Commission was established under the same General Assembly resolution as UNRWA itself, 302(IV) of 8 December 1949 to advise and assist the Commissioner-General of UNRWA in the execution of the programme. On November 9, 2005, the General Assembly approved an increase in the membership of the Advisory Commission to include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland whose contributions to the Agency have exceeded an annual average of $5 millions over the past three years.

The General Assembly also invited Palestine to attend and fully participate in the meetings as an observer, and invited the European Community and the League of Arab States to attend as observers.

In her concluding statements, AbuZayd expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by participants in reaching agreement on the rules, regulations and the work plan for the Advisory Commission, and confirmed enhanced cooperation with the Advisory Commission in the future.

A.D. (22:56 P) (20:56 GMT)