NEW YORK: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today that the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is the ‘backbone’ of all humanitarian response in Gaza, appealing to all countries to “guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s lifesaving work.”
The United States, the biggest donor to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, has temporarily paused its funding to UNRWA – along with several other countries – after Israel accused some of the Agency’s staff of taking part in the October 7 attack.
“I was personally horrified by these accusations,” Guterres told the U.N. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. “Yesterday, I met with donors to listen to their concerns and to outline the steps we are taking to address them.”
He stressed, “The humanitarian system in Gaza is collapsing. I am extremely concerned by the inhumane conditions faced by Gaza’s 2.2 million people, as they struggle to survive without any of the b
asics.”
Guterres further reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, citing humanitarian reasons. He urged all parties involved to closely collaborate with the United Nations’ top coordinators for humanitarian affairs and reconstruction in Gaza to enhance humanitarian aid delivery to the region.
The UN Secretary General stressed that there is nothing that can justify this collective punishment of the people in Gaza. He highlighted the continuous fighting and airstrikes by Israeli occupation forces throughout Gaza, resulting in the deaths of civilians and unprecedented levels of destruction.
Preliminary reports indicate that over 26,750 Palestinians in Gaza alone have been killed, with more than two-thirds of them being women and children. Additionally, more than 70% of civilian infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged, leading to the displacement of over 1.7 million people in the besieged region.
Guterres also addressed the violence in the West Bank, calling for urgent steps to de-escalate
the situation and prevent further violence in the territory.
Reminding the audience that a two-state solution is the only way to ensure the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and establish lasting peace and stability in the area, Guterres asserted that the current conflict must lead to “tangible progress” toward this solution, including ending the occupation and establishing a fully independent and viable state of Palestine, with Gaza as an integral part.
He called on the international community to work collectively towards a meaningful peace process that breaks the cycles of fear, hatred, and tragic violence, creating a more peaceful and hopeful future for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA