Unrwa aid in danger: Guterres demands more support and security precautions

Unrwa aid in danger: Guterres demands more support and security precautions

Guterres calls for more support for UN aid work on

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for increased support and improved security measures for the Palestinian Aid Work Unrwa on the occasion of a meeting of New York. He emphasized that without the necessary financing of Unrwa, the Palestinian refugees lose an important support and their last hope for a better future.

Guterres also directed Appeals to Israel and Hamas to commit themselves to a continuing ceasefire and to leave Israeli hostages. He condemned the latest Hamas attacks on October 7 and criticized the collective punishment of the Palestinian people as unacceptable. Guterres emphasized that chaos in the Gaza Strip concerns all Palestinians and their helpers and urgently requires political solutions.

Unrwa general commissioner Philippe Lazzarini announced that the relief organization will need around $ 1.2 billion by the end of the year, of which only 20 percent are secured. The UNRWA mission was launched in 1949 to help Palestinians in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and West Bank.

The financing of Unrwa is of great importance to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in the region and to provide urgently needed support. It is time that the international community and the parties to the conflict show political will to bring about a sustainable solution and to help people in need.

The accusations against UNRWA employees in connection with the massacre of October 7 show how political tensions and violence in the region continue to lead to serious problems. It is essential that Unrwa maintains the principle of neutrality and introduces improved mechanisms to maintain its integrity.

- Nag