'There is no alternative to UNRWA,' UN chief tells pledging conference

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN chief on Friday appealed everyone to protect Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and its staff, saying there is "no alternative to UNRWA".

"My appeal to everyone is this: Protect UNRWA, protect UNRWA staff, and protect UNRWA’s mandate -- including through funding," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a pledging conference at the UN headquarters in New York aimed at increasing contributions to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

"Without the necessary support and financing to UNRWA, Palestine refugees will lose a critical lifeline and the last ray of hope for a better future," he said.

The UN chief said it is the time to "bring an end to this terrible war, starting with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages".

"Ultimately, only a political solution can bring an end to this conflict – one that realizes a vision of two States – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states," he said.

Speaking at the same conference, UNRWA's head Philippe Lazzarini said the agency is "staggering under the weight of relentless attack in Gaza".

He recalled that 195 UNRWA workers were killed in Israeli attacks and nearly 190 installations damaged or destroyed, killing more than 500 people seeking UN protection.

Lazzarini said that UNRWA is appealing for $1.2 billion for the occupied Palestinian territory emergency to cover critical humanitarian needs until the end of the year.

"This appeal, and the emergency appeal for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are less than 20 percent funded," he continued.

Riyad Mansour, Palestine's UN envoy, told the conference that the past nine months have been "long," "painful," and "harrowing".

"There is nowhere safe for our refugees to turn in Gaza, as the Secretary General has indicated, not even under the UN flag, as schools continue to be targeted and bombed by the Israeli occupying forces in one attack after another, adding to the casualties, destruction and the traumas forced upon our people, 40,000 Palestinian children," Mansour said.