The UN General Assembly (UNGA) voted overwhelmingly to admit Brazil as a full member to the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees in the Near East.
The vote marked Tuesday the first time a Latin American country being admitted to the agency's top consultative body, which advises on key strategic decisions, Xinhua reported citing the UNRWA statement.
"Brazil is the first Latin American country to be represented on the Advisory Commission, cementing a relationship that has grown remarkably over the past five years," the UNRWA said.
Brazil's "increased support culminated in $9.2 million worth of donations to the UNRWA in 2014, in the form of rice for vulnerable and food-insecure refugees", the agency said, adding that "Brazil also contributed $8 million to the UNRWA between 2012 and 2013".
