New York (Union)
The United Nations aid coordinator in Gaza said yesterday that no organization can “replace” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), some of whose employees Israel accused of involvement in the October 7 attack.
Many countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, and Japan, suspended their funding for the agency, and the senior official’s statements came as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prepared to meet with donor countries.
“No organization can ever replace the enormous capacity, fabric and knowledge of UNRWA with the people of Gaza,” said Sigrid Cass, the recently appointed coordinator.
The UN agency has long been subject to oversight by Israel. Israel pledged to stop the agency's work in Gaza after the war.
The US State Department reiterated Sigrid’s position, saying: “There is no party capable of providing aid in Gaza as much as UNRWA does, and we want this work to continue.”
Yesterday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed the important role played by UNRWA in providing vital services to Palestinian refugees, and the essential role in providing shelter and aid to the residents of Gaza.
For its part, New Zealand yesterday suspended funding for the agency, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said, “This suspension will continue until the issue is clarified.”
Following the accusations launched by Israel last week, UNRWA, which provides vital aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, dismissed a number of its employees, promising to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
Before New Zealand, 11 countries suspended funding for the agency, despite United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for continued aid.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations will meet in New York with “major donors” to UNRWA, his spokesman announced. Stephane Dujarric told reporters: “On a personal level, the Secretary-General is horrified by the accusations against UNRWA employees.”
But the spokesman stressed that the Secretary-General’s message to donors, especially to those who have suspended their contributions, is to at least “ensure the continuation of the agency’s operations, while we have tens of thousands of dedicated employees working in the region.”
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Monday urged UNRWA to investigate these accusations, but he distanced himself from calls to put an end to its work.
For his part, European Union spokesman Eric Mamer said that the Union asked UNRWA to “agree to an audit that will be conducted by independent experts chosen by the European Commission.”
Dujarric said, “Any employee involved in a terrorist act will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecutions,” but “at this stage, the expectations for UNRWA and the millions of people it helps, not only in Gaza, but also in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are very bleak.”
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