United Nations, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philip Lazzarini, pointed out on March 4 that UNRWA is "facing a concerted operation that deliberately sabotages and ultimately terminates its operations", which could lead to the collapse of Gaza's humanitarian response capacity in the short term.
The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Filipe Lazzarini, addresses an informal meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the fate and future of UNRWA at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 4 March. Xinhua News Agency (Photo courtesy of the United Nations, Photo by Ewan Schneider).
At an informal meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the fate and future of UNRWA held on the same day, Lazzarini stressed that the campaign against UNRWA was aimed at changing the "long-standing political parameters" set by the General Assembly and the Security Council for peace in the occupied Palestinian territories without consulting the General Assembly and the Security Council, and eliminating its role in protecting the rights of Palestine refugees and being a witness to their plight. The UNRWA mandate "embodies the promise of a fair and lasting political settlement".
Lazzarini said the dissolution of UNRWA was "short-sighted". "In doing so, we will sacrifice an entire generation of children and sow the seeds of hatred, resentment and future conflict. "Without action to rectify this, Gaza's entire humanitarian response capacity will collapse in the short term. The order of the International Court of Justice and the Security Council's resolution calling for increased humanitarian assistance will not be implemented.
Lazzarini called on the international community to commit itself to a "long-overdue political process" that would lead to a settlement that would bring peace to Palestinians and Israelis. He also called on the General Assembly to ensure that UNRWA received the support it needed from the Member States concerned to function.