Potentially ‘Deadly’ Consequences Could Arise From Israel’s UNRWA Ban: UNICEF
October 31, 2024
Jerusalem – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned of potentially “deadly” consequences for Palestinian children due to Israel’s decision to ban the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating within its territory.
In a statement released on Sunday, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed deep concern over the implications of the ban, which she said could jeopardize the provision of essential services to some 500,000 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
“UNRWA provides critical services to Palestinian children, including education, healthcare, and food assistance,” Russell said. “The ban on UNRWA’s operations in Israel could leave these children without the basic necessities they need to survive and thrive.”
UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The agency currently provides services to approximately 5.7 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza.
Israel has accused UNRWA of perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem and has been pressuring the agency to reform its operations. In August 2023, Israel announced that it would no longer allow UNRWA to operate within its territory, citing alleged links between the agency and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
UNRWA has denied these allegations and has appealed to Israel to reconsider its decision. The agency has also launched an urgent fundraising campaign to cover the potential shortfall in funding caused by the ban.
UNICEF has called on Israel to reverse its decision and allow UNRWA to continue its operations. The agency has also urged the international community to step up its support for UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations providing assistance to Palestinian children.
“The lives of Palestinian children are at stake,” Russell said. “We cannot afford to let them become collateral damage in this political dispute. Israel must reconsider its decision and allow UNRWA to continue its essential work.”
The Israeli government has not yet responded to UNICEF’s statement.
Potentially ‘deadly’ consequences could arise from Israel’s UNRWA ban: UNICEF
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