Palestinian lives at risk, UN says it will swiftly respond to allegations about UNRWA staff
NEW YORK CITY: The United Nations says it is taking “swift action” over allegations made over the past few days that several employees of the Near East Palestine Refugee Relief and Works Agency took part in the October 7 attack on Israel.
Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for Secretary-General António Guterres, said an investigation by the United Nations Domestic Monitoring Office had begun immediately.
“Employees involved in acts of terrorism will be held accountable, including criminal prosecution,” Dujarric said Monday. “The[United Nations]Secretariat stands ready to cooperate with competent authorities capable of prosecuting individuals, in line with the Secretariat's normal procedures for such cooperation.”
He told Arab News that the UN “will do whatever it can to allay donor concerns.” And of course we have those concerns too. ”
Several major donor countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, and the European Union, joined the United States in announcing over the weekend that they would suspend funding to UNRWA.
This comes after the International Court of Justice in The Hague called for “immediate and effective” action to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, expressed “strong concern” about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza in a telephone conversation with Guterres on Sunday. He said the EU, one of UNRWA's largest donors, does not expect further funding to the agency until at least the end of February, but that it is still working through its partners “unabated and continuing to support Gaza.” We will continue to provide essential aid to the Palestinian people.” ”
The European Commission said it would reconsider its decision to suspend funding once the UN investigation into the agency is completed. It is also hoped that UNRWA will agree to allow EU-appointed independent experts to audit the agency, particularly the systems in place to “prevent the possibility of its personnel becoming involved in terrorist activities.” He added that he is doing so.
The committee also called for “ensure that all UNRWA personnel did not take part in the[October 7]attacks.”
Mr. Dujarric said that while President Guterres was personally horrified by the accusations against UNRWA staff, the Secretary-General's message to donors, especially those who have stopped funding, is that “at least UNRWA continues to operate.” “We have tens of thousands of people,” he added. Dedicated staff working across the region. ”
What is at stake is not so much the survival of UNRWA as “the lives of the people it serves,” Dujarric said.
It added that the outlook for the agency and the “millions of people it serves not only in Gaza but also in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria is very bleak.”
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said people in Gaza had endured “unthinkable fear and deprivation for months”. Their needs have never been greater and the United Nations' humanitarian capacity to help them has never been under greater threat, he added.
“We need to do everything in our power to give the people of Gaza a moment of hope. Now is not the time to let them down,” Griffiths said.
After receiving information about UNRWA staff's alleged involvement in the Israeli attack, the agency's director Philippe Lazzarini said he immediately terminated the contract and launched an investigation into the allegations.
“UNRWA personnel involved in acts of terrorism will be held accountable, including criminal prosecution,” Lazzarini said, echoing Dujarric's pledge.
“These shocking allegations come as more than 2 million people in Gaza rely on lifesaving aid provided by government agencies since the start of the war. Those who betray the fundamental values of the United Nations. would be a betrayal of the people we serve in Gaza, the region and other parts of the world.”
Asked why due process was not followed in severing ties with employees facing allegations, Dujarric said: “Historically, agency heads and secretaries general have had the authority to immediately terminate employees if they receive information that would lead them to believe these allegations.” The staff should be fired immediately. ”
Several aid organizations expressed shock at the “reckless” decision by some donors to withhold funding to UNRWA, and renewed warnings of the increased risk of famine and disease outbreaks in Gaza.
Nongovernmental organizations implored donor countries to reaffirm their support for the agency, reverse funding suspensions, and increase the level of humanitarian assistance they provide to address the urgent needs of Gaza and the wider region.
Mr. Dujarric welcomed the messages of support for the institution, saying: “I think people in the NGO community understand that UNRWA is currently doing important work in protecting people's lives and in the support work that we have been doing since the beginning of this conflict, but more broadly, , in all its operations not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.”
The timing of the allegations against the 12 UNRWA staff and whether the Secretary-General believes there is any connection between this and the International Court of Justice's decision that genocide may be occurring in Gaza. When asked about this by Arab News, Dujarric said: We have no control or comment on the space-time continuum in which we live. ”
Given the Israeli government's persistent attacks on UNRWA since the start of the war, President Guterres responded to a minister's comments on whether he was concerned that there may be deliberate efforts to destroy UNRWA. Dujarric, who said the war cannot be won without destruction, said: “Of course. Of course we are concerned about the attacks and the lack of funding for UNRWA.”
